SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE

Melissa Federspill|Leader-NewsAurora Dehoyos (right, back to camera) administers the oath of office to newly-elected Uvalde County Appraisal District directors (standing, left to right) Vicente Gonzales and Javier Flores. The installation took place Jan. 17. Gonzales is replacing John Thomas Buchanan. Flores has been on the board since January of 2012. The appropriate amount of safety

The annual Christmas at the College is a beloved tradition in Uvalde, and this year, they honored the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary shooting.

The honor society at Southwest Texas Junior College is helping students facing food insecurities with an on-campus food pantry.

The community is invited to the Southwest Texas Junior College campus Saturday for a Wellness and Resource Fair set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will include activities for children, such as an obstacle course, jumping castles, and corn hole contests. There will also be four water slides, and approximately 20 food

Project Graduation, the annual all-night party for Uvalde High School graduating seniors, is set Friday, May 27 at Southwest Texas Junior College. According to organizers, student registration is ongoing and there’s still time for community members to make a donation. The event allows students the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and spend their last night

There will be a candidate forum Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Tate Auditorium on the campus of Southwest Texas Junior College for the upcoming May 7 election. Voters will have an opportunity to hear from candidates in both the Uvalde City Council and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees races. The forum

Hector Gonzales Graduation for Southwest Texas Junior College will be held on May 13-14 at the Uvalde Honey Bowl, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, graduation will be postponed until the first weekend of June, SWTJC president Hector Gonzales told the college’s board of trustees on March 24. Gonzales also updated the board

The pandemic has forced hundreds of Southwest Texas Junior College students to abandon their college plans, as administrators report another drop in enrollment of about 500 students this semester. Approximately 5,578 students signed up for classes this spring, down from 6,080 in the spring of 2021, per SWTJC data. The college has not recouped the enrollment decline that was […]

Follow along with our live coverage of the debate between Republican Tony Gonzales and Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones from the heart of Congressional District 23, at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde. Read more about the race:The hour-long debate will air live on KSAT, KSAT.com and all of KSAT’s free streaming platforms starting at 7 p.m. Southwest Texas Junior College and Sul Ross State University are the hosts, and KSAT’s Steve Spriester will be the moderator. We want our viewers to weigh in on the issues they want to hear about from the candidates. In a race where the margin is usually razor-thin, debates can make the difference. And, for more election news and key races, visit KSAT’s Vote 2020 page or sign up for our free election newsletter.

He said although the college is working to develop a reopening plan, their focus at this time is student safety. The college is still evaluating how instruction for the second session of summer school will take place. He said moving forward, they are developing a plan that includes phases of reopening to help students finish up components of their labs. This is also a concern for high school students taking SWTJC career and technical education dual credit courses. He said SWTJC would notify students when they can resume hands-on activities.

Alice B. LopezAlice B. Lopez, 74, of Uvalde died on March 24, 2020, at Main Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. She was born on Nov. 8, 1945, in Uvalde to Guadalupe (Ibarra) and Rodolfo V. Lopez. She was a member of the Guadalupanas, was a money counter at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and volunteered at St. Henry de Osso. She retired from Southwest Texas Junior College where she was a secretary for many years. She is survived by two sisters, Alida Lopez of Uvalde and Ana L. Martinez of San Antonio; two brothers, Rudy Lopez and wife, Adelaida, of Houston, and Bobby Lopez and wife, MaryAnn, of Houston; six nephews, Ernest Martinez, Daniel Martinez, Samuel Martinez, Johnny Lopez, Joseph Lopez and Matthew Lopez; three nieces, Kristy McInnis, Kathy Wilson and Caroline Lopez; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.

David I. FowlerDavid Irvin Fowler, 71, of Sabinal died on March 7, 2020, at Daybreak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hondo, due to complications following stroke symptoms. Fowler was born July 29, 1948, in San Antonio, to Elizabeth Jane (Smith) and Irvin Malcolm Fowler. He served as a member of the Texas Water Utilities Association Winter Garden District for just over 40 years. He is survived by wife of Sabinal; son Charles David Fowler and wife, Paige Alexis, of Houston; sister Betty Jo Harris of Sabinal; two nieces, Julie Aelvoet of San Antonio and Jeanie Finch and husband, John, of Denton; and three grandchildren, McKenzie Brooks Fowler, Brady Lewis Fowler and Alexis Elizabeth Fowler. Pallbearers will be Brady Fowler, Robert BJ Cone, Beau West, Coley Salge, John Finch and Greyson Melton.

Melissa FederspillStaff writerThe number of students attending classes at Southwest Texas Junior College continues to rise, as reported during the board of trustees meeting on Thursday evening. Spring enrollment numbers increased 1.7 percent from last year, totaling 6,752, which is 117 more students taking classes than in 2019, when enrollees totaled 6,635. Classroom hours have also increased, up 3 percent from last year. The gain in classroom hours is a marked improvement from 2019, when the college saw a less than 1 percent increase. 01The college has been working with the new city manager from Carrizo Springs, Ronnie Guest, about opportunities to enhance access to higher education, said Hector Gonzales, SWTJC president.

Southwest Texas Junior College is seeking entries into its 39th Annual Creative Arts Contest. The entry deadline for literary and visual arts is 4 p.m., Friday, March 20. Judges will also select an overall literary and visual arts winner in each age group. Age divisions will be the same as last year, which include divisions: pre-K through kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6, grades 7-8, grades 9-10, grades 11-12, college, and community. The college has a strong commitment to supporting and promoting the creative arts, and we look forward to another year of outstanding entries, said Cheryl Sanchez, dean of the college of liberal arts.

Southwest Texas Junior College is now offering classes in general and airframe training, following approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to Johnny Guzman, dean of the school of applied sciences, the college received official notice from the FAA on Dec. 19 in an approval process that has taken two years. A few years ago, a group of Del Rio community leaders and Laughlin Air Force Base officials approached SWTJC with the idea to initiate an aviation maintenance program, Guzman said. The goal was to provide a workforce for the increasing demand for aviation mechanics, specifically for the base in Del Rio. Students will learn skills in aviation shop practices, ground operations, aviation science, basic electricity, landing gear systems, and airframe inspection, along with shop safety, servicing, and general operating procedures.

Thomas L. Hubble Sr.Thomas L. Hubble Sr., 90, of Bandera died on Nov. 6, 2019, in Bandera. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Marion Ward Spangler Hubble, on June 15, 2003; daughter, Sharon Elizabeth Hubble, in 2018; his parents; 11 sisters; and two brothers, Leo Hubble and Buddy Hubble. His family moved to Bandera in 1935, where he attended school, excelling in football, basketball and track. Hubble eventually went to work for Central Power and Light Company as an electric maintenance helper in Uvalde. According to the family, Hubble enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, playing softball and bringing critters home with him in his lunchbox.

Fifty-three new members were inducted into the Eta Beta Chapter of the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa during ceremonies held Oct. 8 at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde. New members include Ofelia Aguirre, Giselle Garcia, Ariana Perez, Austin Alfaro, Omar Garcia, Joaquin Perez, Chloe Avila, Garrison Garza, Cynthia Reyes, Luis Balderas, Olivia Garza, Mia Reyes, Brianna Barclay, Brianna Gonzales, Monika Rios, Davynn Benavides, Lizette Gonzales, John Rowland, Valerie Benavides, Allyna Gonzalez, Bianca Ruiz, Brianna Campos and Christopher Hernandez. Other new members also inducted were Natalia Saenz, Dietrich Campos, Hayli Karnes, Jasmine Salas, Anissa Castillo, Kylie Lawler, Jackeline Sanchez, Mariel Contreras, Rodolfo Lopez, Kaitlin Sanchez, Amaya Cosper, Emma Maldonado, Adam Tapia, Ysenia Diaz, Gisselle Martinez, Joerden Trevino, Ellenore Dorris, Jonah Martinez, Jose Valerio, Amaris Falcon, Gabriela McNelly, Amy Welch, Austin Fuentes, Kimberly Meza, Abigail Zinsmeyer, Abagail Garcia and Shelby Penney. SWTJC President Hector Gonzales opened the ceremony with a welcome message to the new members.

Melissa FederspillStaff WriterSenate Bill 25, signed into law by Governor Abbott two weeks ago, addresses the transfer-ability of credit hours obtained at community and junior colleges in Texas, an issue that has been plaguing junior colleges like Southwest Texas Junior College. Universities such as Texas A&M have the college of business, the college of engineering, the college of architecture, etc., and those specific disciplines for the most part do not accept the Texas core-curriculum, said Gonzales. Although the bill does not guarantee that universities will accept all transfer credit hours, the bill does hold universities accountable by requiring the filing of an annual report that outlines what courses were not transferable and why. The bill requires a report on non-transferable credit and requires dual credit students to file a degree plan after 15 semester hours., Gonzales said. Gonzales said this is one reason it is important for dual credit students to file a degree-plan.