DMC Recognizes 110 TRUE Grant Program Completers with Workforce Skills Awards During Ceremony on Sept. 15
College’s Continuing Education Department building South Texas’ workforce using Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education grant awarded by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Article by Melinda Eddleman
Mobilizing the state’s public community, technical and junior colleges to “fast-track” residents into the workforce was a priority for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) last year. The Board awarded its Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Institutional Capacity Grant to two-year colleges across the state––including a $500,000 TRUE grant directly to Del Mar College (DMC) and another $200,000 to DMC through Coastal Bend College (CBC) as part of a collaborative grant award––to train individuals for high-demand jobs.
TRUE grant funding provided for short-term postsecondary training programs leading to credentials that target regionally-specific fields to fortify Texas’ economy; and for DMC Continuing Education (CE), preparing Coastal Bend residents for the workforce has paid off.
During a ceremony held Sept. 15, the College and its Continuing Education Department recognized 110 students––including about 10 from the CBC collaboration––who completed training in CE healthcare and trade industry programs and who earned their Workforce Skills Awards.
Continuing Education staff are extremely proud of all our students who completed their respective Workforce Skills Awards over the last nine months. Having valuable workforce skills makes these individuals highly employable for jobs available here in the Coastal Bend.
Under the TRUE Grant funding, Continuing Education's programs served over 150 individuals overall since the grant award, which runs through Sept. 30.
CE programs selected for short-term training in Corpus Christi align with Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend’s Targeted Occupations List for 2019-2021 and trends outlined by the Texas Workforce Commission for both Texas and the Coastal Bend. These programs correlate with high demand for employment in the area.
These short-term programs range from four to 16 weeks to complete, and programmatic sequencing allows students to on-board into specific study fields without prior knowledge or skills development. Additionally, these CE programs, whether they provide certification or WSAs (Workforce Skills Awards), allow students to gain immediate employment during or upon completion.
“Thanks to the TRUE grant, Del Mar College is producing a skilled workforce to support local business and industry with ‘work ready’ employees,” notes Dr. Rivera. “ I believe we have delivered what industry wants and what our community needs—an educated and prepared workforce.”
The following students have earned their Workforce Skills Awards through the TRUE grant initiative:
• Certified Nurse Aide: Ariana Arreola, Ashley Barrera, Naomi Barton, Elizabeth Basaldu, Angela Cabuling, Selena Cano, Desiree Chavez, Dominic Chavez, Crystal DeLeon, Bianca Estrada, Matricia Fleming, Stephanie Franklin, Alejandro Gutierrez, Catherine Hall, Selina Harsila, Esperanza Hernandez, Dana Merino, Chaiyre Miller, Ayub Mugwe, Angelica Olivio, Isabel Palacios, Tiffany Perez-De los Santos, Emily Puente, Dawn Ray, Maria Resendez, Amanda Riley, Danielle Rodriguez, Ruby Rodriguez, Jose Romero, Amanda Torres, Destiny Villamar and Veronica Villamar
• Electrocardiography: Jesus Aldaco, Azam Anraripour, Bianca Banda, Joe Castillo, Monique Duran, Alexus Garcia Warren, Arianna Garcia, Joseph Garcia, Kathrin Govante Chacon, Stephanie Guzman, Joseph Jacobo, Latricia Jones, Eloisa Juarez, Mariah Leal, Kembria Lindsey, Iris Nieto, Jessica Noriega, Ana Pena, Rena Pena, Jennifer Perez, Lisa Ramirez, Melissa Reyes Martinez, John Saenz, Matilda Sanchez, Angelica Saucedo, Josee Serna, Maura Valencia and Savannah Vega
• Medical Billing and Coding: Beyonca Coleman, Christal Colton, Gina Deleon, Crystal Gauna, Elizabeth Guzman, Maribel Hernandez, Brittany Jardon, Belinda Long, Mariah Lugo, Amber Martinez, Briana Martinez, Ann Partington, Jennifer Pena, Angelica Ramos, Erin Schrader, Brenda Vela and Nona Walker
• Medical Secretary: Ashley Gallegos, Brenda Gonzalez, Victoria Gonzalez, Amanda Landa, Angelita Martinka, Angela Molina, Terissa Montemayor, Sandra Patino and Chanati Richards
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning): Kyle Baker, Dusty Buehring, Joe Bustamante, Jose Carrillo, Raoul Galavis, Damian Garza, Tomaz Jardon, Kenneth McCreless, Gustavo Reyna and Mark Sain
• Welding: Austin Alexander, Jo Ann Garcia, Kyle Jones, Mario Lopez, Jayden Mata and Orlando Montelongo
• Carpentry: Marcus Garcia
• House Wiring: Marissa Chapa, Demetrio Eguia, Jimmy Gomez, Brian Harris Sr., Jacob Ramos and Michael Rodriguez
• Plumbing: Ashley Gonzalez, Corin Jones and Devan Stormm
• Construction IBC: Kevin Alexander (Carpentry, House Wiring, Plumbing), Patrick Alexander (Carpentry, House Wiring, Plumbing) and Araceli Medina (Carpentry, House Wiring)
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.