Mayor declares Accelerate Texas Week in Uvalde

Uvalde city mayor Don McLaughlin signed a proclamation declaring the week of Nov. 9-15 as Accelerate Texas Week, during their regular monthly meeting last Tuesday.

McLaughlin read the proclamation in front of city council and members of the community in attendance.

Dean of Workforce Education Romelia Aranda, program coordinator Oscar Garcia and SWTJC President, Dr. Hector Gonzales were on hand to accept the proclamation.

Photo: Uvalde Mayor Don Mclaughlin, SWTJC President Dr. Hector Gonzales, Dean of Workforce Education Romelia Aranda and Adult Basic Education Program Coordinator Oscar Garcia (left to right) pose for a picture during last week's city council meeting. 

Southwest Texas Junior College is one of 21 community colleges and college districts across the state celebrating Accelerate Texas Week on Nov. 9-15.

Artists receive awards for face painting skills at Dia de Los Muertos event

Winners in the sugar skull face painting contest held Oct. 28 (Tues.) in Uvalde were Laura Zavala, first; Jose Gomez, second; and Amanda Olivarez, third. PHOTOS

(Photo: Laura Zavala (right) and model Karla Guerrero (left) earned first place at sugar skull face painting contest)

Prizes of $50, $25 and $20 were awarded to the top artists in the contest held in conjunction with the "Dia de los Muertos" celebration. A total of 11 participants entered the contest.

The event was sponsored by the SWTJC Uvalde Catholic Club.

Hill College, SHSU take rodeo team honors

SWTJC bullrider Chance Lopez rides bull during the 52nd Annual rodeo

Hill College took the men’s team title, while Sam Houston State University won the women’s division in the 52nd Annual SWTJC College Rodeo held Oct. 2-4 in Uvalde.


No SWTJC athletes finished in the top ten in individual events. Though disappointed by his team’s performance, SWTJC rodeo coach Roy Angermiller was pleased with the overall results of this year’s event.


“I wish our athletes would have had a little more luck,” Angermiller said, “we had an off night but I’m sure we’ll bounce back and compete hard next week.”


Angermiller also thanked sponsors of this year’s event. “The Uvalde and area business community were once again outstanding in supporting our annual rodeo,” Angermiller said. “I just can’t thank them enough for their generous support.”


SWTJC rodeo team members will compete this weekend (Oct. 9-11), in Mt. Pleasant at the Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo.

Palomino Fest donates $25,000 to SWTJC scholarship fund

The Southwest Texas Junior College scholarship fund is $25,000 richer following the most successful Palomino Fest Labor Day Weekend Celebration in history.

Johnny and Jorge Arreola of Los Palominos presented a $25,000 check to SWTJC President Dr. Hector Gonzales on Sept. 25.

“Los Palominos are very pleased to make this contribution to the college scholarship fund,” Arreola said. “We thank our sponsors, volunteers, and the college staff for working hand-in-hand to make this year’s event the best Palomino Fest to date.”

Arreola said the event continues to grow every year largely due to the support of the community. “The county of Uvalde has been one of the festival’s biggest supporters, and we are very thankful for all that they’ve done for this event,” Arreola said. “We’ve been doing this for eighteen years now and I hope we can continue for many years to come.”

Law enforcement academy partners with Continental Tire

(l-r): Robert Armstrong, J.J. Suarez, Dr. Hector Gonzales, Christian Brielmaier, 
Johnny Guzman, Dr. Mark Underwood

The Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy at Southwest Texas Junior College has entered into an agreement with Continental Tire to make use of their 5000-acre Uvalde Proving Grounds facility, which is located approximately seven miles south of Uvalde on Batesville Road (FM 117).

According to Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator, Robert Armstrong the Uvalde academy will be the only class to use the Uvalde Proving Grounds in the fall, however he expects the Eagle Pass academy to train at the proving grounds along with the Uvalde class in the spring.

“We are excited to partner up with SWTJC and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the law enforcement academy,” said Christian Brielmaier, Uvalde Proving Grounds Test Engineer.

Cadets are scheduled to train on Nov. 15, 16, and Nov. 22-24. They will be learning and performing different maneuvers as part of the Professional Police Driving course.

Rodeo team kicks off season in Carthage, TX

Members of the Southwest Texas Junior College rodeo team includes (front row, left to right) Kathrine Whitaker, Rozlyn Reeves, (second row) Chance Lopez, Joe Reeves, Dalton Brown, Wyatt Duncan, (third row) Courtney Myers, Crystal Wetz, Shelbi Haynes, Suade Furr, (back) Cameron Loveday, Kody Tredway, Cody Hines, Dextar Udall, Luis Santos III and Sterling Furr.

The Southwest Texas Junior College rodeo team will kick-off the 2014-2015 rodeo season by competing at the first Southern region rodeo in Carthage, TX hosted by Panola College on Sept. 26-27.



SWTJC will host the second National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) rodeo of the season on Oct. 2-4 at the Uvalde County Fair Plex Rodeo Arena. Evening performances will start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.



Over 350 collegiate athletes, representing some 15 colleges and universities in the Southern Region are expected to compete in Uvalde. Nationally renowned rodeo stock contractor Terry Walls will once again provide stock for this year's event.



Palomino Fest draws record crowd in Uvalde

Organizers say upwards of 20,000 people attended the 2014 Palomino Fest Labor Day Weekend Celebration held Aug. 28 – Aug 31 at the Uvalde County Fairplex.

"Our final number stands at approximately 20,000, which is an increase for last year's attendance," festival coordinator Wade Carpenter said. "This was our 18th annual event and it keeps getting bigger every year."

Carpenter expressed his gratitude to all the volunteers who helped with this year's festival. "Our volunteers are a major reason for the success we have had through out the years," Carpenter said. "I especially want to thank all the volunteers from SWTJC who put in long, hot hours at this year's event."