Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation Awards TAMIU’s Sanchez School $250,000 Banking Academy Gift
In recent ceremonies, the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) presented a $250,000 gift to Texas A&M International University’s A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business at the RSTEF 2025 Awards Ceremony, held at the Radisson McAllen Airport Hotel.
The generous endowment will support the Sanchez School’s Banking Academy, fostering comprehensive financial education and industry leadership development in the region, said Dr. Luis A. Pérez-Batres, Dean of TAMIU’s Sanchez School of Business.
“We deeply appreciate this generous and impactful RSTEF gift. It is a game-changer for our students and the entire financial sector in South Texas. It reaffirms our commitment to excellence in business education and strengthens our ability to develop the next generation of banking leaders," Dr. Pérez said.
The Banking Academy at TAMIU provides students with specialized training, networking opportunities, and hands-on experience in the financial industry. The RSTEF funding will enhance academic programs, scholarships, co-curricular training aligned with industry standards, and additional professional development initiatives.
Pérez also acknowledged key contributors to the Banking Academy’s success, including Dr. Claudia San Miguel, TAMIU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Laredo banking leaders; Dr. Steve Sears, first Banking Academy Director, and former Sanchez School Dean; Dr. Amit Ghosh, Division of International Banking and Finance chair, the TAMIU Alumni Association, and Sanchez School faculty for their instrumental roles in making this vision a reality.
Headquartered in Mission, RSTEF is a foundation dedicated to advancing education and economic development in the Rio-South Texas region and has long supported initiatives that drive innovation and workforce readiness. These efforts empower thousands of students within the region to pursue meaningful careers and prosperous lives.
This latest RSTEF gift and investment reflects a shared vision between TAMIU and RSTEF, said TAMIU vice president for Institutional Advancement Rosanne Palacios.
“In 2024, we were blessed with another $250,000 RSTEP program endowment in support of our ‘Closer Than Ever’ program, which helps former students determine the best options available to them to complete their degree. Other support has been provided for an endowment for computer engineering scholarships, and an endowment for a professorship in Computer Engineering. RSTEF’s visionary generosity is furthered by this latest gift which equips students with the market skills, knowledge, and resources they need to excel in the financial sector and lead purposeful lives that benefit their family and all communities of South Texas,” Palacios said.
Opportunities to support TAMIU initiatives, students, and programming can be explored with Palacios at rosanne.palacios@tamiu.edu or by calling 956.326.2178.
In 2024, RSTEF distributed $2.3 million, 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 increase 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 area.
For more information on RSTEF and funding support, visit rstef.org or email info@riosouthtexasecdf.org.
For more from TAMIU’s A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, contact the Office of the Dean at 956.326.2480. Additional Sanchez School of Business information is online.
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