The road to a higher education has not always been easy for Brenda Lee Treviño. She enrolled in college after graduating from Roma High School, but soon made other issues her priority and stopped attending. However, her life changed when she became a mother.

“It wasn’t until I married and gave birth to a beautiful daughter that I realized that earning a degree was the only opportunity I had to provide a good life for my daughter and be a good role model for her,” she said.

Treviño was able to balance her full-time job, family and education by attending classes at The University of Texas-Pan American’s temporary Starr County Upper-Level Center, which held an official groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, Oct. 15 for its new permanent facility located at 142 FM 3167, next to South Texas College’s Starr County campus.

“It has been difficult for me, but with my family’s support and UTPA being close to home, I have been able to manage my time and fulfill my dreams of becoming an educator. Aside from STC, UTPA has been the only university, who has opened their doors to students who encounter obstacles similar to mine,” Treviño, who will graduate with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies and minor in bilingual education from UTPA in December, said.

When complete, this structure will provide students in the western Rio Grande Valley with a state-of-the-art educational center. The new building will have approximately 21,000 square feet of computer labs, classrooms, office space, math and science labs, smart or technology-enhanced classrooms and a resource center. UTPA’s temporary center in Rio Grande City consists of four portable buildings with a total area of approximately 2,000 square feet.

“With the construction of this new facility we will be able to expand career opportunities for more Starr County residents,” UTPA Interim President Charles A. Sorber said. “We will have expanded hours and we’ll have expanded space for more classes. Technology will help make this dream a reality and will bring distance learning opportunities to the students.”

STC President Dr. Shirley Reed also spoke at the groundbreaking and told attendees that she was proud to see two higher education institutions in a spot that was once a cantaloupe field 16 years ago.

“We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with UTPA,” Reed said.

State Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-TX) said it was a struggle to secure the funding for the facility, but she was excited about the success after so many years. Continued...