Category Archives: Technology Campus

STC Alumni Exhibit Series

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 22 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. 

National Library Week 2025

National Library Week - Drawn to the Library

A stack of multicolored books.Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything. – American Library Association

Join us to celebrate at the following campuses:

  • Mid-Valley Campus Library
    April 9th, 10 AM to 12 PM

  • Pecan Campus Library
    April 9th, 11 AM to 1 PM

  • RCPSE Campus Library
    April 9th, 11 AM to 1 PM

  • Starr Campus Library
    April 9th, 11 AM to 1 PM

  • Technology Campus Library
    April 9th, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

  • Nursing & Allied Health Library
    April 10th, 11 AM to 1 PM

Alumni Series Featured Image

STC Alumni Series: Fabian Chavarria


Artist Talk & Reception: November 11, 3 – 4 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library (A179)

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery celebrates its annual STC Alumni Series with an exhibition of Fabian Chavarria’s mixed-media paintings and sculptures. The series aims to support artists who began their education at STC and have since continued their work in the arts.

As an STC graduate, Chavarria went on to earn his BFA and MFA at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and now works to educate the next generation of artists.

Chavarria states, “I use my art for personal and societal transformation, fostering positivity and growth to share knowledge and inspire individuals to step outside their comfort zones and create change in the world.

Chavarria will host an artist talk on November 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. During this talk, Participants can discover the process, techniques, and inspiration behind his artwork.

The exhibit opened Monday, August 26, and will be on view until December 11, 2024. The Technology Campus Library is located at 3700 W Military Highway in McAllen, TX.

Admission is free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program arranges exhibitions and educational programs to involve students in art and its cultural significance. They support the academic curriculum and encourage further education through direct interaction with artists, scholars, and original artworks.

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

STC Architectural Students present Arch Thru Art

Reception: April 10, 2024, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library.

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery and Architecture Department proudly presents Arch Thru Art, an exhibit by STC Architectural History students. In this showcase, students visually reflect on structures from ancient civilizations through the evolution of architecture over time using contemporary designs. Their artwork shows how buildings have changed, revealing the creative ways architects adapt to different times. Visitors can explore the exhibit to see the unique blend of history and modern ideas that these students bring to life through their art.

**Title**: Arch Thru Art **Artist**: South Texas College Libraries **Venue**: South Texas College **Dates**: April 2022 **Event**: Art & Architecture Series **Description**: The poster features an artistic representation of a stone arch bridge over a blue stream, surrounded by green grass. A QR code provides additional information about the event. For more details, contact **(956) 872-3488** or email **gotvos@southtexascollege.edu**. ![QR Code](https://i.imgur.com/QRCode.png)

The exhibit will be on display from January 8 – May 1, 2024, with a reception on April 10, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery, Bldg. A, at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen, TX. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Handmade paper sculptures of churches

STC Alumni Series: Karla Gabriela De La Fuente

Two handmade paper church sculpturesArtist Talk: November 28, 3 – 4:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at the STC Technology Campus Library

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery celebrates its annual STC Alumni Series, featuring “Hecho a Mano: Paperworks,” an exhibition of handmade paper by artist and alumna Karla Gabriela De La Fuente. The series aims to support artists who began their education at STC and have since continued their work in the arts.

Flyer for Karla. All information in blog post.De La Fuente is in her last semester of the Master of Fine Arts Program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In her handmade paper art, De La Fuente investigates the human experience on the border, incorporating Rio Grande Valley organic materials and traditional Mexican techniques developed by the Otomi people from Central Mexico.

De La Fuente will lead an artist talk on November 28, from 3 – 4:30 p.m., where participants can learn about her process, techniques and inspiration behind her artwork.

Admission is free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Cultural portrait featured image

Cultural Portrait Exhibition

Cultural Portrait banner

STC’s Technology Campus Library showcases the ancient art of metalsmithing with a modern narrative

Exhibition reception: April 25, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery showcases a University of Georgia Jewelry and Metals MFA graduate Guadalupe Navarro. He uses traditional Copper and Silversmithing techniques to create vessels, wall-hanging pieces, and sculptural objects that focus on his experience as a first-generation Mexican American. Navarro’s artwork was recently featured in a prestigious Craft in America exhibit.

Cultural Portrait flyerThere will be an exhibition reception on April 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the library’s annual Open House. Navarro will be present to discuss his artwork and answer questions.

The exhibit opens on February 13 and will be on view until July 21, 2023. The display and event will be at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery, Building A, at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen, TX. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call (956) 872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Stories from the Front

Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin: Stories from the Front

Stories from the Front

Author Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin

Author Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin

In her newest book, Bronze Star-decorated combat commander Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin outlines her experiences and those of 13 other brave women and men affected by Military Sexual Trauma. Join us for a frank discussion about the invisible wounds left behind by assault, trauma, hardship, and combat. Copies of Stories from the Front: Pain, Betrayal, and Resilience on the MST Battlefield will be available for purchase and signing.

Event Title: “Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin: Stories from the Front”
Speaker: Colonel Lisa Carrington Firmin
Date: Wednesday October 19th, 2022

1PM in the Technology Campus Auditorium

6PM in the Pecan Campus Student Union Building

Cover of Stories from the Front: Pain, Betrayal, And Resilience On The MST Battlefield

After serving 30 years in the Air Force, and as its most senior-ranking Latina officer upon retirement, Colonel Carrington Firmin was horrified by the appalling murder of a fellow Latina, Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén, in April 2020. Vanessa’s horrific death became the catalyst for repressed memories of the colonel’s own sexual assault during initial training and the repeated sexual harassment she endured early in her career and catapulted her on a soul-searching journey to document others’ experiences and to advocate for change within the armed services. Her poem “Into the Light,” featured in Stories from the Front, captures her feelings and recounts how she came to end her silence on the negative aspects of her military career. The colonel is proud of her service and the strong bonds she had with so many military professionals, but acknowledges that now is the time to share the full reality of all that she experienced and endured.

Stories from the Front is published by Blue Ear Books on April 22, 2022, to commemorate the second anniversary of Vanessa Guillén’s murder.

Blue Ear Books official website

STC Alumni Series: Mariana Prado

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery continues its STC Alum Series with an exhibit celebrating STC graduate Mariana Prado. The series seeks to support a new generation of professional artists who started their careers at South Texas College. Prado recently completed a residency at the Chautauqua School of Art in New York after receiving her BFA from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2021. 

Mariana Prado is originally from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and now resides in the Rio Grande Valley. She specializes in soft yarn sculpture, oil painting, and plastic arts. 

The exhibit will be on view from September 22 through December 9, 2022, at the STC Technology Campus Library at 3700 W. Military Hwy, Bldg. A, in McAllen, TX. 

There will be a reception and art talk on November 17 from 3 – 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

Contact (956) 872-6207, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit: http://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery.

Inside the Artists Studio

Virtual Workshop Banner

The STC Library presents a series of five virtual art workshops.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents a virtual art workshop series “Inside the Artist Studio” every second Wednesday of the month beginning in February at 1 p.m.

At every session, a different artist will lead participants in an hour-long workshop teaching specific visual art skills like figure drawing, collaging, and visually interpreting written poems.

Each workshop will broadcast from inside each artist’s home studios giving us a glimpse into their work, inspiration, media, and path it has taken to become the artists they are.

Artists featured within this series are Divine Agbeko, Jaden D. Blango, Aimaloghi Eromosele, and Marcelina Gonzales.

Artists Jason Valdez and Josue Ramirez will give virtual presentations about their exhibits at the STC Technology and Mid-Valley Campus Libraries. All events are free and open to the public.

This series is scheduled on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

Feb. 9 – Figure Drawing with Jaden Blango
Feb. 16 – “Time and a Half” with Jason Valdez
March 2 – “Who’s the Bandit” with Josue Ramirez
March 9 – Resin Collage with Marcelina Gonzales
April 13 – Visual Poetry with Aimaloghi Eromosele and Divine Agbeko

For more information, contact (956) 872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

To view each of the artist’s talks, watch here:




STC Library Virtual Art Workshops