STC Alumni Exhibit Series

The STC Alumni Exhibit Series returns to the Technology Campus

Reception: Oct. 21, 3 – 4 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library (A-179)

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 the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) 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. 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 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 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 Dueñas.

Irma Garza Garcia is a dedicated returning student, wife and proud mother of two young adults. She began her academic journey at STC in 1999 at the Starr County campus and returned nearly 20 years later to earn an associate degree in Visual Arts. Her educational experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Garza Garcia credits her STC faculty for their patience and dedication, which have helped her gain a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives in drawing and painting. Currently attending the 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 STC in 2022, but it wasn’t until her final semester that she took a painting course with 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, Ramirez is in her second semester at the 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.

Colors We Dream: A Call for Alebrije-themed Artwork


Deadline to submit artwork: September 15, 2025

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery is now accepting submissions for an upcoming exhibition, “Colors We Dream / Colores que Soñamos,” featuring “alebrije”-themed artwork.

The call is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The deadline to submit artwork is Sept. 15.

Inspired by the captivating world of magical realism, “alebrijes” are fantastical creatures born from the imagination of Mexican-born artist Pedro Linares in the 1950s. They combine elements of different animals, real or imaginary, and are painted with vibrant colors and patterns to create magical, dreamlike beings. Each “alebrije” is a unique reflection of its creator’s spirit and inner world. Though not representations of real animals, they are believed to roam the landscapes of another dimension, connected to our dreams and subconscious.

Artists are encouraged to submit original “alebrije”-themed 2D or 3D artwork suitable for wall display. Artwork must be appropriate for all ages. All mediums are accepted. If generative AI tools are used to create the artwork, they should be cited in the medium. The exhibition will be held at the South Texas College Pecan Campus Library from Oct. 1 through Dec. 1.

An opening reception and awards ceremony will take place Oct. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. Participation is free and open to the public.

To participate, complete the entry form at https://forms.office.com/r/8bYYyrvq2V and deliver artwork to:

South Texas College Library  
Library Art Gallery, Bldg. F, Rm. 235
or Main Circulation Desk
3201 W Pecan Blvd. McAllen, TX 78501

For more information, visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag or email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu.

 

 

Welcome to the Library


Welcome to South Texas College Library! Join us as we highlight some of the services that we offer students, faculty, and the community in this short video.

Whether you need a quiet place to study, print out a research paper, or even find an ebook, the South Texas College Library is here to help. Come visit us!

 

Champions of the Starr County Fair: Middle and High Schools

Artist Reception: Oct. 14, 10-11 a.m. at the Starr Co. Library Art Gallery.

The South Texas College Starr Campus Library Art Gallery has partnered with the Starr County Fair to present an exhibition showcasing award-winning artworks created by middle and high school students in grades 6-12 across Starr County.

The exhibition will be on display from August 25 to December 1, 2025, at the STC Starr County Campus Library, located in Building F at 142 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City. A reception to celebrate the young artists will take place on October 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Selected from over 100 entries, the artworks were judged on content, composition, technique, and originality. The student artists were recognized for their creativity, skill and outstanding efforts. This exhibit celebrates student achievement while highlighting the importance of arts education and community support in nurturing future artists.

The STC Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to enhance students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire ongoing education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original artworks.

For more information, contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

 

 

 

 

 

Semester Loans


The Semester Loans Program provides academic support to students as they work to fulfill their educational goals by providing technology to access key tools and resources, including Library databases, eBooks, Blackboard, and other helpful online resources. Students wishing to receive one of these loans should review the eligibility requirements below before submitting an application.

There are limited hotspots and laptops available to any student enrolled in at least 6 hours during the Fall semester. When supplies are exhausted, eligible student names will be added to a wait list. When a resource becomes available, the student will be contacted.

Eligibility Requirements

Available for students meeting the eligibility requirements.

 

South Texas Ceramic Showdown

South Texas College Hosts 16th Annual Ceramic Showdown and Exhibition “Reimagination”
June 11 & 12: Hands-on workshops, artist talks and exhibitions. All free and open to the public.

Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Greg Busceme is unable to attend the workshops. We’re excited to welcome Pam ONeil and STC alum, now UTRGV Instructor, Rick Sullivan to lead workshops on June 11–12.

The South Texas College Art Department and Library Art Gallery will host the 16th annual ceramics exhibition and event, “South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Reimagination,” featuring two full days of hands-on workshops, artist talks and exhibitions, all free and open to the public.

This year’s conference theme “Reimagination” invites participants to view the familiar through a fresh lens–rethinking or reinventing ideas with the aim of improvement or innovation. The Ceramic Showdown begins June 11 with a day of clay demonstrations by Beaumont artists Greg Busceme and Pam ONeil at the Pecan Campus Ceramic Studio, Building B, Room 115. That same evening, an opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at both the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and Art Building B.

Workshops and artist talks continue on June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a scheduled lunch break from noon to 2 p.m.

Chris Leonard, Ceramic Showdown organizer and STC ceramics instructor said Greg Busceme and Pam ONeil connect in and outside the medium of clay while telling great stories.

“Busceme and ONeil will have an exhibition of the work they’ve produced in the Library Art Gallery, with possibly some additions outside of ceramics and explanations of how they’ve made use of education in and outside of art while maintaining an experimental and positive attitude enabling them to grow community involvement and spirit,” said Leonard. Exhibition details:

  • The Library Art Gallery will display ceramic works by Busceme and ONeil from June 11 through Sept. 15.
  • The Art Building B Gallery will showcase collaborative ceramic works from 10 colleges and universities across the country. This show runs June 5 through August 8.

Participating institutions include Arizona Western College, Butte College, College of the Sequoias, Lawrence University, South Texas College, Southeast Missouri State University, Tarrant County College Northwest, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and University of Texas at San Antonio.

Wednesday, June 11, 2025—
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Clay Demonstrations at STC’s Ceramic Studio, B115
2 – 4 p.m. Clay Demonstrations at STC’s Ceramic Studio, B115
5 – 7 p.m. Opening Receptions at the STC Library Art Gallery and STC Building B Gallery

Thursday, June 12, 2025–
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Clay Demonstrations at Ceramic Studio, B115
2 – 4 p.m. Clay Demonstrations & Ceramic Art Talks, B115

About the artists:

Greg Busceme is a Beaumont-based artist whose work reflects the Texas coast, where marine life and shoreline fossils shape his artistic vision. He began his ceramics journey at Lamar University and earned a Master of Fine Arts in ceramics from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was the program’s first graduate. Busceme is co-founder and executive director of The Art Studio Inc., a nonprofit arts hub established in 1983.

Pam ONeil is a ceramic and mixed media artist with a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University and an associate degree in Nursing from Pima Community College. With over 40 years of experience in health care and a passion for clay, she is a resident artist at The Art Studio, where she integrates diverse disciplines into her artistic practice.

Rick Sullivan holds an MFA in Fine Arts from UTRGV and currently teaches 3D Foundations at the university. He is a ceramic artist, U.S. veteran, and alum of South Texas College.

For more information about the Ceramic Showdown, contact 956-872-3488, email  gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

 

Popcorn for Finals!

Popcorn for FinalsStop by your campus library for some finals fuel! While supplies last.

Starr County Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 6 & Wednesday, May 7 – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Mid-Valley Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 6 & Wednesday, May 7 – 11:00 AM

NAH Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 6 – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Pecan Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 6 – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Technology Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 6 – 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

RCPSE Campus Library

  • Tuesday, May 13 – 11:00 AM

Jessica Monroe: A Cosmic Dance

Artist Exhibition traveling from Pecan campus to Mid-Valley Campus Library 

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery and the Art Department Gallery are collaborating to present “A Cosmic Dance,” an exhibition by local artist Jessica Monroe. The exhibit will take place at the Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery. 

The opening date is April 25, and the exhibition will be on display until September 15, 2025, at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library, located at 400 N Border, Building E, in Weslaco, TX. Admission is free, and the exhibition is open to the public. For library hours, visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/aboutus/hourscontact. 

Jessica Monroe is known for her large-scale nature paintings that are full of energy and movement. She uses a meditative approach to create marks responding to wildlife to connect with nature.  “I rely on the authenticity of the natural world where the stories of interdependence and balance offer perspective and healing,” Monroe says. “Inspired by these wild spaces, I create paintings full of movement in a style of ecological realism.”  

Monroe’s love for nature began in childhood on her grandparents’ farm. “It was my favorite place, where the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors blurred. Without air conditioning, we slept with the windows open and woke to the racket of birds. When life as a young adult became overwhelming and stressful, I used my creative practice to reconnect with the natural spaces that stirred my heart as a kid,” she recalls.

Monroe’s meditation paintings respond to the energies around her, letting go of capturing a pretty image. “Through this process, I witnessed a different way of understanding our world, where energy flows, and nothing is separate,” she explains. “I work to remain true to what I have learned about this subject.”  

The STC Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to enhance students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire ongoing education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original artworks. 

For more information, contact 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