STC hosted a Noche De Familia Virtual Conference on November 13 from 6-8 pm.  Instructor and CTN board member, Esmeralda Macias, introduced Dr. Chavez who welcomed the students and their parents and spoke briefly about the Ascender program. Dean Ali Esmaeli also welcomed the Ascender parents as did Mario Morin and each of the team members.

Morin then introduced the keynote speaker, CTN Board Chair, Dr. Rogelio Saenz. He spoke about growing up in the valley and the many obstacles he had to overcome to reach his goals.  Instructors Angelica Cerda and Esmeralda Macias led a question & answer session which was followed by an Ascender Alumni Panel moderated by instructor and Ascender Coordinator, Dr. Anna B. Alaniz. The panel of alumni speakers included Farah Guerrero, who will receive her Masters in Economics in December from the University of Texas-Tyler and works as a Human Resources Director in McAllen; Mauricio Morales who just started his masters in computer science with Lamar University and works for the state attorney’s office; and Alyssa Garcia who graduated from Texas A&M University at Kingsville and works for IDEA schools in Elsa.

Next graduates from each campus were recognized by instructors, Cerda, Macias and Alaniz. Instructor Dr. Juan Ramirez thanked those who participated and closed the event.