Solis: South Texas College to expand its presence in the Delta area

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Working with Edcouch-Elsa ISD, South Texas College is going to be offering more Career & Technical Education courses for students living in the Delta area.

This means students from cities such as Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Monte Alto that want to become electricians or welders, or specialize in trades such as HVAC and automotive will not have to travel south to STC’s Mid-Valley campus in Weslaco. Instead, they will be able to earn their certificates at Edcouch-Elsa in courses designed by STC.

News of the investment in the Delta area was made by STC President Ricardo Solis in a video interview with the Rio Grande Guardian.

“We’re doing a unique partnership there, thanks to the vision of the trustees of South Texas College, together with the trustees of the school district, Edcouch-Elsa. We’re going to them. Although we have a very unique and great campus in Weslaco, we’re going to be expanding to Edcouch-Elsa,” Solis said.

“We’re going to provide multiple types of certifications, especially in the welding area, and also heavy equipment as well, for the Delta area. There’s a population there that is in need of this type of certification, so we’re going to them, to meet the needs of that entire area.”

Solis gave his interview to the Guardian at STC’s Starr County Campus in Rio Grande City. There, he and his leadership team announced expanded programs in automotive, electrical, welding, and HVAC for Starr County.

Solis continued: “We’re are going to be partnering with (Edcouch-Elsa ISD) to provide CTE opportunities, especially in the technical areas. We’re going to duplicate the same programs as we’re doing here (in Starr County), but they (the school district) are going to be the ones establishing them, especially the automotive, the welding, the HVAC. Those are great opportunities, big demand, growth areas, and we’re very confident this partnership with them is really going to be a first and will succeed.”

Solis’ announcement about more opportunities for the Delta area followed on from a recent visit he made to the Mid-Valley campus to highlight additional opportunities for heavy equipment certifications. 

“Due to the boom that we’ve seen, with the construction taking place in the Mid-Valley area, from Mercedes, and, of course, Weslaco, the Delta area, all the way to Pharr and San Juan, we’re seeing a big growth in the industrial sector, in the commercial sector, and all of those necessitate specialty certifications, for people to hire those that can operate heavy equipment,” Solis said.

Solis added: “We’re very excited, very confident, that this heavy equipment certification will be able to provide opportunity for many. That’s why we have a partnership that we were able to obtain there, a partnership with the City of Weslaco, specifically, and the EDC, they supported us. And now we’re going to have these type of programs throughout that whole region, when it comes to all the eastern part of Hidalgo County. Heavy equipment certifications for all.”

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of the interview the Guardian secured with Dr. Solis at STC’s Starr County Campus:

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