Liza Veliz, a psychology professor at South Texas College, has been elected to serve as the Psi Beta Southwestern Regional Vice-President on the Psi Beta National Council for a two-year term, 2016-18. Professor Veliz was officially installed on Aug. 3 during the 2017 national convention of the American Psychological Association held in Washington DC.  Veliz is faculty advisor of the South Texas College Psi Beta Chapter. Psi Beta is the national honor society in psychology for community colleges and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Psi Beta is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Psychological Science (APS).  Psi Beta’s mission is to professionally develop outstanding students at two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service. Active Psi Beta chapters, such as the chapter at South Texas College, provide students with a wealth of…

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Healthgrades Study of Patient Outcomes in Nearly 4,500 Hospitals Finds McAllen Heart Hospital Among Best in Nation McAllen, Texas – McAllen Heart Hospital released today that it has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ for Cardiac Surgery and one of America’s 100 Best Hospital’s for Coronary Intervention and Cardiac Care for 2017. McAllen Heart Hospital is the only hospital in the Rio Grande Valley* to receive any of these honors, and it is one of only 19 hospitals in the nation and two in Texas to be a “triple-crown” recipient. Healthgrades, the leading online resource helping consumers make informed decisions to find the right doctor and the right hospital for the right care, evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 34 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.** Annually, Healthgrades identifies the best-performing hospitals across all conditions or procedures evaluated. “Healthgrades’ analysis of quality outcomes reveals…

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MCALLEN, TX (June 14, 2017) – The Law Enforcement Program at South Texas College is taking their program to a whole new level by being the first police academy in the Rio Grande Valley to incorporate the newest, higher standard in firearms training simulations, the Virtra V-300. Virtra is the newest training tool for law enforcement professionals that demonstrates how quickly decisions have to be made, and if they are not made immediately and rationally, lives can be lost, according to STC Law Enforcement Program Chair Victor Valdez. The program plays out like a VR simulator. Real-world engagements occur in a 300-degree environment. Threats come from all directions. The disadvantages to training on a single-screen simulator, the cadet is only utilizing a 60-degree field of view, and doesn’t have to turn to scan the environment for a potential threat. Valdez says the overall benefit of having this system is to…

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Leading national LASIK provider, The LASIK Vision Institute (LVI) announces the opening of its new laser eye surgery center in McAllen, TX. A trusted destination for vision correction procedures, the new center offers patients unparalleled expertise, convenience, and affordability. We offer 25% Off discounts to all members and member employees.

South Texas College is seeking to bring as many leaders as possible from across the Valley to share their concerns about industry in the region. Working with decision makers in the healthcare and information technology industries, the goal is to gather those who recognize that there is a high demand for growth in these sectors throughout the Valley. In a two-day event held at the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 24-25, the RGV Healthcare Industry Partnership and the RGV Information Technology Partnership, in collaboration with representatives from STC’s Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator (TRSDSA), RGV FOCUS, McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, Weslaco EDC, Workforce Solutions-Hidalgo, and the Rio South Texas Economic Council continued their discussion to determine priorities for collective action among professionals in healthcare and information technology. “Our plan is to get as many leaders from across the Valley, from Brownsville to Rio Grande City,…

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Following official ribbon cutting, South Texas College set to open new student enrollment center. For the upcoming Summer and Fall semesters, students registering for classes at the South Texas College Pecan campus will avoid waiting in long lines at the old admissions, info & welcome centers thanks in part to a new Student Enrollment Center the college unveiled Tuesday.  The renovated space, located inside the first floor of Building K, combined these areas into one larger, open-concept space to offer students a virtual one-stop for admissions and registration. “This embodies what South Texas College is all about, no barriers for students,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “Everything is open and collaborative. Students will be here in a comfortable environment, and will have the chance to register early and get their services done on time.” The enrollment center should be fully operational by the end of February. When it…

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The City of McAllen and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at South Texas College are announcing an investment to help McAllen become increasingly competitive on a global scale. The city will present a $400,000 Development Corporation Fund grant award to STC at its Technology Campus Building B atrium at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 19. The campus is located at 3700 W. Military Highway in McAllen. The ceremony recognizes McAllen and South Texas College in their partnership for manufacturing customized training catered to industry located within the city. “This is a partnership that has been ongoing for the last 15 years,” said Carlos Margo, STC Dean of Industry Training. “These funds will be used primarily for the delivery of customized training for McAllen manufacturing companies, and is intended to help companies grow and become more efficient, productive and ultimately help the economy here by doing so.” Customized training involves over…

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Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC, Hankin Enterprises, and Fulcrum Management are set to officially open the doors of the new Cambria hotel & suites in McAllen, TX today. Located just steps from the McAllen Convention Center, the 121-room Cambria McAllen will serve as the brand’s third property in Texas “said Roxanne Pequeno, General Manager of the new hotel. The new Cambria Hotel & Suites McAllen Convention Center features a modern design, while also taking cues from the vibrant city that surrounds it. Amenities will include a contemporary Bistro called Social Circle, serving a menu comprised of local specialties created by Chef Michael DeMaria; liquor, wine, beer and freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches; and a barista bar; an outdoor pool; and over 2000 square feet of meeting space with integrated AV capabilities available for meetings. “McAllen is…

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Tom Burr, COO of the Raba Kistner Environmental group, has announced that Raba Kistner has brought their coastal protection, restoration and resiliency services to the Valley. The Coastal Services and Engineering (CSE) group will focus their efforts along the entire Texas Gulf Coast. The CSE group is led by Melany Larenas, PG and Scott Hicks, PE.  The group introduces a full suite of coastal engineering and geological capabilities to Raba Kistner’s Valley offices. For more information, please contact Melany at mlarenas@rkci.com or Scott Hicks at shicks@rkci.com.