TSC, Brownsville Nite Lions partnership sets up students for success

The Brownsville Nite Lions donated $3,000 for student scholarships during a recent meeting of the TSC Board of Trustees.

Texas Southmost College students pursuing a certificate will have greater opportunities of obtaining a student scholarship thanks to a recent donation by the Brownsville Nite Lions.

The $3,000 donation was recently presented during a meeting of the TSC Board of Trustees.

The donation is intended to create three $1,000 scholarships for students pursing a certificate in a skills trade such as welding, pipefitting or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

TSC Coordinator for Institutional Advancement Melissa Muzquiz said the number of workers the Rio Grande Valley needs in these trade areas is growing.

“The demand for skilled trade workers in the Valley and throughout the state is increasing,” she said. “We are extremely grateful to the Brownsville Nite Lions for this donation because supporting these students’ educational endeavors can be life changing.”

The long-standing partnership between TSC and the Brownsville Nite Lions has garnered numerous scholarship opportunities for students pursuing a certificate over the years.

Brownsville Nite Lions Marketing Director Joe Ponce said the organization’s scholarship program has been an ongoing project for their Scholarship Chairman Armando Anzaldua that continues to grow.

“These scholarships are created to give someone trying to make a better life here within our community,” said Ponce. “When someone obtains a skill in a trade, it gives them the opportunity to find immediate employment or open a business, which in turn positively impacts our economy.”

In fact, for Ponce, TSC is near and dear to his heart as an alumnus from the college’s electrician program.

“We have big plans to continue supporting TSC and its certificate students. We will always give back to the college that has a tremendous impact in our community,” said Ponce. “We must work to remove any barriers students face so that they can get the skills they need, graduate from college and help us build our community.”

To be eligible for a Brownsville Nite Lions Scholarship, the student must be a U.S. citizen, Texas resident, current freshman with 0-29 semester credit hours, maintain a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher, and be enrolled in a minimum of six semester credit hours in a certificate program.

“Many of these students will get their certificates in less than one year and find a great-paying job immediately after graduating because they are in such high demand,” said Muzquiz. “Donations for scholarships like these set our students up for success.”