St. Augustine student a National Hispanic Scholar

Rebecca Arenaz was recognized at St. Augustine at the schoolwide mass during Catholic Schools Week; Arenaz was named a National Hispanic Scholar by College Board. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Pablo Arenaz. Pictured with Arenaz are Dr. Rosa Maria Vida, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese, and Olga Gentry, principal of St. Augustine High School.

Trautmann Elementary School identified by NCEA as higher performing School in 2010

The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), a department of ACT, named UISD’s Trautmann Elementary School in its 2010 NCEA Higher Performing Schools List for Texas.

The list identifies elementary, middle, and high schools that have consistently outperformed their peers that serve similar student populations and recognizes their achievement in bringing more students to college and career readiness than expected.

Schools on the list are identified by one of two measures: academic growth of students at the school and/or absolute achievement of students at the school using the TAKS' Commended Performance level. The measures exemplify not only those schools that are able to improve their student performance from previous years but also those schools that push their students beyond the Met Standard (passing) level - a level that is typically too low to accurately measure student preparedness for postsecondary learning. NCEA's identification of Higher Performing Schools is more selective than the Texas Education Agency's Exemplary or Recognized list and comprises fewer than 10 percent of public schools in the state.

Trautmann Elementary Principal, Cynthia Rodriguez, was elated with the news that her campus had achieved NCEA recognition.

"I’m thankful for the exceptional staff that that I have. Thanks to them we are able to make extraordinary strides with our students," she said.

United Day School Supports New Libraries

Taylor Peters, United Day School's Teachers of Tomorrow Club president, handed a check to Nellie Trust, Friends of the Library representative last week after a very successful fundraising campaign initiated at the school.

"It is with great pleasure that we present a check to the Friends of the Library for $1,250 for the purchase of 50 new books," Peters said.

"The Teachers of Tomorrow Club decided to participate in the Friends of the Library fund drive in November of this school year," said Tracy Doan, teacher-sponsor of the club.

She said the club president had a meeting with all of the members and decided by vote to take on this worthy project. To start off, the members shared the responsibility of making presentations to each homeroom class. The goal of the project was to request that all 473 United Day School students donate $1 toward the purchase of books.

The Teachers of Tomorrow officers and members collected and counted the money that was brought in over a period of six weeks. Every count ended in the tabulation of how many books could be purchased. The project caught fire as it proceeded and after the final tabulation, the members had collected $1,250.

"The students knew that this amount would bring in 50 new books for the new city libraries," Doan said." Every student in the school as well as staff members participated in this worthy cause."

Accepting the check, Trust thanked the students for their commitment and hard work.

"Countless library patrons will benefit from your decision to help our community in this manner," Trust said. "You can feel very proud of your commitment to enhance literacy in our city and surrounding areas."

Forms for the adoption of books or the purchase of bricks can be found at the Laredo Public Library (call 795-2400). The book adoption is $25 and the brick purchase is $50.

Pictured, front row: Laredo Public Library Director, Maria Soliz; students, Sofia Perez, Katarina Sierra, Vanessa Flores.Pictured, back row: Taylor Peters (club president), Tracy Doan (club sponsor), Sophia Pena, Ana Gaby Medina, Aleza Trevino, Analy Rechy, Rita Peters (school principal) and Nellie Trust, Friends of the Library representative.

Top art students shine in new LCC exhibit opening Monday

"Pelvis" by Samantha Proa

The best of the best will showcase their creativity as Laredo Community College turns the spotlight on some of its most talented art students during a new exhibit opening on Monday, Jan. 31 at the Harold R. Yeary Library.
The campus body and art lovers from the community are invited to attend an opening reception for the LCC Art Scholarship Show on Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the college library foyer on the Fort McIntosh campus.
Refreshments will be served. Admission is free of charge.
The students featured in this art exhibit were selected in the spring as recipients of an LCC art scholarship for demonstrating their excellence as a student of art, according to LCC art instructor Mary M. Bausman.
"They set an example for other art majors to follow through their dedication and skill level seen in each work," Bausman said. "The LCC Art Department congratulates each hard working student for their competitive accomplishments."
The featured student artists include Miriam Castro, Nadia Hernandez, Alejandra Guerrero, Samantha Proa, Alicia Mendez, Denise Rodriguez, Juan Castillo, Maricela Duffield, Fernando Perez, Leticia Reyes, Penelope Warren and Felicitas Garcia.
The exhibit will remain on display through Monday, Feb. 28. It may be viewed at the library Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m.

Registration for Spring 2010 continues at TAMIU

The coming holidays and the promise of a New Year brings the chance to renew, retool and reinvigorate with classes at Texas A&M International University.

Registration for the Spring 2011 Semester is now available at http://schedule.tamiu.edu/

Classes will begin Tuesday, Jan. 18. The final late registration day is Jan. 24.

Visit the Offices of the Registrar at the University Success Center, Suite 121 or call (956) 326-2250.

Office hours are from 8 a.m-5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fridays.

Miller ready for new role as VP for instruction at LCC

Fueled by a longstanding passion to help improve lives, Dianna L. Miller, Ph.D., hopes to make a bigger impact in the lives of college students in her new role as the vice president for instruction at Laredo Community College.

A veteran nursing educator and college administrator with 18 years of service at LCC, Miller emerged as the top candidate for the job after the college conducted an extensive national search to fill the VPI position.

"Laredo Community College is very pleased to have Dr. Miller assume the role of vice president for instruction," LCC President Juan L. Maldonado said. "She has served on an interim basis this fall semester, and she has proven she is well organized, very professional and task oriented. She exhibits the qualities that will lead to the continued success of the college's Instructional Division."

He added, "Of four candidates who initially applied for the position, Dr. Miller was the sole candidate to advance to a formal interview, and the search committee was unanimous in "

Miller, who possesses a wealth of experience as a nursing practitioner, educator, and administrator, said that she is honored by the opportunity to continue serving LCC in her new capacity.

"Health care and specifically nursing has been my passion since I was young," Miller said. "As I moved into nursing education I realized I was making a difference in the lives of others on a larger scale. In nursing practice, I directly influenced the lives of my clients whose care I was responsible for. In nursing education, I could affect many students who in turn affected the lives of their clients.

"All of the nursing and administration experiences have provided me the foundation to pursue the VPI position. My motivation for pursuing this position was based on recognizing I had developed a specific skill set which consists of education and experience, and I felt that I could make a larger contribution to Laredo Community College by serving in this role."

As the vice president for instruction, Miller said she will strive to provide effective leadership by increasing communication and by being a transparent leader. She hopes to meet the college's challenges of increasing student enrollments through creative restructuring of course offerings, and addressing decreasing state budgets with minimal detrimental impact to the college's mission and goals.

"As the vice president for instruction, I need to focus on the best direction and decisions for the institution, while balancing the needs of those who work at the college and the students who attend it. The VPI must provide leadership and represent LCC in the local community, as well as on a larger state and national perspective," Miller said.

Miller has served a notable tenure at LCC, including 13 years as a faculty member for the vocational and associate degree nursing programs, six years as the chair for the Associate Degree Nursing Department and seven years as the Dean of Health Sciences, which included the task of being directly responsible for the success of the college’s nursing programs. Most recently, she has served as the Interim Vice President for Instruction.

"I am proud to be part of the LCC family and look forward to many more years," Miller said. "LCC has quality people who care about providing the best educational experiences for students in various settings. The college is intensely student success oriented, with people who care about each other and are willing to go above and beyond their job descriptions to assist others."

Miller holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction, which she earned in 2009 from the University of Phoenix.

She also holds Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing.

'Holiday' Noche Romantica set for Wednesday

The sweet and romantic sounds will be heard just in time for the holidays as Laredo Community College's Spanish Traditional Group performs during the 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert.

The annual music concert will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 p.m. in LCC's Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater.

Admission is free and open to the public.

More than a dozen members from the LCC Spanish Traditional Group will perform Spanish and Christmas music.

"For 20 years now, we've been going strong with the LCC Spanish Traditional Group, and we're excited to bring this concert to the community to show our passion for this type of music," said Ruben Vargas, the group's music director.

The Noche Romantica program at LCC began in 1990 and is still going strong.

"When we started this group, we knew there were people interested in keeping Spanish music alive. And now, we have more than a hundred former members out there, and we invite them to come this 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert," Vargas added.

Some of the selections for the Noche Romantica concert include, "Odiame," "El Milagro de tus Ojos," "Dejame Vivir," and "Feliz Navidad."

For more information on the 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert, contact the LCC Performing Arts Department at (956) 721-5330 or email Ruben Vargas at ruben.vargas@laredo.edu.