TSC LIVES TO A VIGOROUS 85, LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 100 MORE

By Juan Montoya
After 20 years of languishing in the shadows of the UT System, the Texas Southmost College District celebrated four score and five years of providing a step up to countless generations of South texas residetns.

On Wednesday, a serenade of mariachis, a concert piano virtuoso and accompanying soprano, color guards and precision marchers – all by local students that will some day will recall their days in TSC as their alma mater – celebrated its survival and progress.

Conspicuous for their absence were the three TSC trustees who were against the separation of TSC from the UT System. David Oliveria, Robert Robles and Robert Lozano were no-shows. All three voted for a proposal that would have dissolved the community college and turn over all $200 million of its assets to the oil-and-gas rich UT System. The fact that they were not on hand to celebrate the community college district to which voters elected them to represent them did not sit well with many present.

"This is like a kid in a playground who did not get this way taking away his ball and going home," said a TSC student. "Just because they didn't prevail doesn't mean they have to show so little class by not attending. This is true especially of Oliveira, whose father was one of the first TSC presidents (1971-1977)."

However, those who did attend were treated to the presentation of the colors by the Lopez High School Lobos Junior ROTC, a spine-tingling rendition of the national anthem by Claudia Ortiz Palmenez, the Hanna High School Estudiantina singing Feliz Navidad to the accompaniment of the clapping crowd, a precision performance by the Lopez high School Unarmed Drill team, and a Carnegie Hall-class rendition of Granada by Jessica Lustenberger.

Later, the Los Fresnos High School Mariachi closed the show with a traditional performance of La Negra, a crowd pleaser.

Newly-named Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent Carl Montoya was also on hand to celebrate the anniversary.

Speaker after speaker, praised the merits of a stand-along community college to provide the opportunities to local residents interested in bettering their lot. TSC chairman Kiko Rendon, Sen. Eddie Lucio, City Commissioner Rose Gowen, and TSC President Lili Tercero lauded the role of community colleges in preparing the nation's workforce, especially to those n the lower economic strata in the United States.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold sent a video message congratulating the trustees and residents of the area for supporting TSC for the past 85 years.

Sen. Lucio presented a Texas Senate proclamation and in an emotional presentation, the sister of the late Seferino Rodriguez accepted an award on behalf of her late brother, who is 1949 won $25 for suggesting the name of Texas Southmost College to the then-Southmost Union Junior college District. 

 "This community college has provided past generations of South Texas residents with an opportunity to better their lives and that of their famlies," Tercero said. "We look forward to making sure that we provide that opportunity to future generations to come."