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The inspiring sounds of young mariachi
musicians from Zapata raised the roof this summer
at TAMIU’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.
The talented Zapata musicians, members of the
Zapata High School Mariachi Halcón, were featured
in a special screening of the nationally broadcast
PBS documentary “Mariachi High,” hosted by
KLRN, Laredo’s public television station, and the
Guadalupe & Lilia Martínez Foundation.
The screening was an
example of the strengthening
collaboration between TAMIU
and KLRN, lead by its CEO, Mario
A. Vázquez, a Laredo native. The
documentary focuses on a year
in the life of Zapata High School
mariachi musicians, all part of the
top-ranked ensemble Mariachi
Halcón.
At the end of the TAMIU
performance, the audience was
stunned to be serenaded by the young mariachi
musicians who strolled in, heralded by trumpets
and boisterous applause.
Vázquez, said he believed the performance and
presentation was a harbinger of things to come.
The University and KLRN are developing
an initiative that would link academic program
development in communication, specifically radio
and television programs, to an on-campus studio
with uplink capabilities. The ability to share culturally
relevant programming from Laredo is a keen part of
the planned collaboration.
Collaborators KLRN, TAMIU
Host Mariachi High, More
Partnerships
Students advocate for
Neglected Kids
From left to right, Jennifer Lerma; Amy Carrillo; Stephanie Diaz,
Criminal Justice Association president, Elsa Tenorio; Elizabeth Ortíz,
Criminal Justice Association treasurer. Far right, TAMIU Criminal
Justice Association advisor, Dr. Claudia E. San Miguel.
Five TAMIU students dedicated most of their
Saturdays this past summer to train and learn about
issues in child abuse and neglect.
In the process, they received training to become
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers.
The volunteers, all members of the TAMIU Criminal
Justice Association, are pioneers in a new program,
Co-CASA, where two volunteers work together on
one case.
Judge Paul Gallego certified TAMIU students
Stephanie Diaz, Elizabeth Ortíz, Elsa Tenorio, Amy
Carrillo, and Jennifer Lerma as CASA volunteers in
September.
CASA volunteers interact with lawyers, teachers,
counselors, foster parents, and biological parents
to gather information about the child’s medical,
educational, physical and emotional needs, and
details about the child’s current home placement.
“They will be assigned a case involving alleged
child abuse/neglect and their task will be to gather
as much information as possible from and about
the child. Then they will be ‘the voice’ of the child in
court,” explained Dr. Claudia San Miguel, associate
professor/director, TAMIU College of Arts and
Sciences Criminal Justice Program.
Even though the students initially went through
the training to learn more about the criminal justice
system, they realized that by volunteering a few hours
a month, they could help a child in need.
“For anyone thinking about becoming an
advocate, do it. This is an exceptional program that is
in the child’s best interest. Trust me; you will change
someone’s life,” said Elizabeth Ortíz, TAMIU criminal
justice graduate student.
tion on Voz de Niños, visit