TAMIU Alumni Association Selected for $250,000 Endowment by RSTEF in Support of ‘Closer Than Ever’ Program
The Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Alumni Association was named a recipient of a $250,000 Program Endowment by the Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) in recent ceremonies in McAllen.
The Endowment Award was part of an overall award allocation of $1.3 million to nine initiatives focused on advancing postsecondary education and workforce development in RSTEF’s seven-county service region.
TAMIU’s ‘Closer Than Ever’ program, launched in 2018, helps former students determine the best options available to them to complete their degree.
Juan Gilberto García, Jr., TAMIU vice president for Student Enrollment and a TAMIU alumnus, shared the impact the Endowment will make possible with RSTEF members.
“Since its 2018 inception, ‘Closer Than Ever’ has welcomed back over 800 students, with 450+ proudly crossing the stage to receive their TAMIU degrees and others eagerly continuing their degree progress. These numbers are not merely statistics...they represent stories of determination, resilience, and triumph over adversity. These are the students and graduates who will drive the future of this region and beyond.
“With the invaluable support of the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation, we are poised to extend our reach even further. This Scholarship Endowment will not only alleviate the financial burden faced by our students but will also ensure the longevity and sustainability of the program for others,” García explained.
Other institutions receiving fund awards included Laredo College: Start 2 Finish Program; Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board: Project BUILD and LEAD Internships; South Texas College Education Foundation: Promise Program; Texas State Technical College Foundation’s Goal Line Assistance Program and CTE Student Scholarship Program; the Texas A&M Foundation: Texas A&M University Higher Education Center (McAllen) Construction Science Endowment, and the Valley Grande Institute: Regional Healthcare Apprenticeship.
Together with a previous commitment to fund an endowment at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, RSTEF is set to distribute $2.3 million in 2024, bringing its total investment in the Rio-South Texas region to just over $7.5 million over five years since first funding community partners in 2020.
RSTEF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development. It serves a seven-county region comprised of Willacy, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Webb counties. It provides financial support to 501(c)3 nonprofits whose programs result in increased skilled employment and educational obtainment for area residents. RSTEF’s goal is to help the region’s residents attain vocational trade certifications or degrees for in-demand professions, to improve the economic conditions and quality of life for the region.
For more information on RSTEF and funding support, email info@riosouthtexasecdf.org.
For more on TAMIU’s Closer Than Ever program, visit the dedicated website at https://www.tamiu.edu/closerthanever/, email outreach@tamiu.edu, call 956.326.2700, or complete an online inquiry form at https://www.tamiu.edu/closerthanever
University news and information can also be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
Proud RSTEF Award Recipients
The Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) recently awarded Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Alumni Association with a $250,000 Scholarship Endowment supporting the “Closer Than Ever” Program. Left to right, are Dr. Miguel Nevarez, RSTEF Secretary/Treasurer; Dr. Kelly Nassour, RSTEF Board Member; Keith Patridge, RSTEF Chair; Juan Gilberto García, Jr., TAMIU vice president for Enrollment Management; Scheiby González Fisher, TAMIU associate vice president for Enrollment Management; Walter J. Reyna, RSTEF Board Member; Adam González, RSTEF CEO, and Rafael Tapia, RSTEF Grant Manager.
