The STC Alumni Exhibit Series returns to the Technology Campus with three former art students.
The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery is pleased to announce the annual STC Alumni Series. This exhibition features paintings by former students Elijah Dueñas, Irma Garza Garcia, and Michelle Ramirez. This showcase highlights the transformative power of artist mentorship, with students beginning their studies under STC Art Instructor Luis Corpus and continuing their journey with UTRGV’s Painting Instructor Rigoberto Gonzalez.
Join us for a reception celebrating the artwork of these graduates on October 21 from 3 to 4 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from former students about their experiences at STC and the opportunities available in the art curriculum.
The exhibit will be on view from August 25 to December 1, 2025, at the STC Technology Campus Library located at 3700 W. Military Hwy, Bldg. A-179, in McAllen, TX. Admission is free and open to the public.
About the artists:
Elijah Dueñas began his college journey as a computer science major at STC in 2018 but later decided to switch to fine arts, embarking on a three-year path of artistic growth and improvement. His classes with STC Art Instructor Luis Corpus taught him the fundamentals of drawing forms and shapes accurately, as well as the techniques of painting. When he transferred to UTRGV in 2022, he studied under Rigoberto Gonzalez, who emphasized human anatomy and helped refine his skills over the following two years. “The classes were initially tough and challenging, but thanks to the guidance of my art instructors at STC and UTRGV, they ignited my love for human portrait art. I will always remember them; every time I draw, I reflect on how they helped me establish my place in the world of art,” said Elijah.
Irma Garza Garcia is a dedicated returning student, wife, and proud mother of two young adults. She began her academic journey at South Texas College in 1999 at the Starr County campus and returned nearly 20 years later to earn an associate’s degree in visual arts. Her educational experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Irma credits her STC professors for their patience and dedication, which have helped her gain a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives in drawing and painting. Currently attending the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), she expects to graduate in Fall 2026. Irma encourages others to pursue their goals, stating, “It is never too late to start or resume a postponed goal. The best age for a person is always the present.”
Michelle Ramirez is an oil painter who started developing her skills in high school. She enrolled at South Texas College (STC) in 2022, but it wasn’t until her final semester that she took a painting course with Art Instructor Luis Corpus, which reignited her passion for oil painting. “I never wanted to miss a single session. It provided me with the space to create, learn, and evolve as an artist, and I’m deeply grateful for that experience,” she shares. Now, Michelle is in her second semester at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a teaching certification, expecting to graduate in 2027. She earned her Associate of Arts in Teaching from STC in 2024.
STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to enhance students’ understanding of art, support the curriculum, and inspire continued education through engagement with artists and original works.
For more information, please email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/LAG.
