Press release from Southwest Texas College

   03-05-26 {Uvalde, Texas) Southwest Texas College (SWTX) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Showmanship Scholarships, recognizing outstanding young livestock exhibitors from across the tri-county district. Each year, the Agricultural Management Department awards a $500 scholarship to the winner of the showmanship award in each of the livestock county classes at the three livestock expositions in the district. To take advantage of this award, recipients must enroll at SWTX.

  This year’s county-level scholarship winners include exhibitors in Uvalde County, Real County and Zavala County across pee wee, junior, intermediate and senior divisions. Showmanship scholarships were awarded in species and classes such as rabbits, goats, lambs, swine, steers, broilers, horses and angora goats, reflecting the depth of student participation in local agricultural programs.

  Uvalde County showmanship scholarship winners were recognized across multiple livestock categories. In Angora Goats, Maura Astling (Senior) and Sadie Ayala (Junior) earned scholarships. Market Broilers winners were Grant Williams (Senior), Ellie Lopez (Intermediate) and William McLaughlin (Junior). Breeding Sheep honorees included Hallie Moore (Senior), Ryanne Brewster (Intermediate) and Jackson Bravo (Junior). Meat Goats scholarships went to Brett Dreyer (Senior), Briggs Davenport (Intermediate) and Kenedy Ramirez (Junior). Commercial Heifer winners were Carley Phillips (Senior), June Driskill (Intermediate) and Harlo Hale (Junior). In Rabbits, London Grace Hobbs (Senior), Morgan Lackey (Intermediate) and Audrina Rodriguez (Junior) were recognized. Farm Projects scholarships were awarded to Ariana Castro (Senior) and Rhett Chambers (Intermediate). Steer division winners included Jazzlean Gomez (Senior) and Easton Parker (Junior). Horses honorees were Carley Phillips (Senior Halter) and Tres Korczynski (Junior Halter). Swine scholarships went to Adan Viramontes (Senior), Kinlei Verstuyft (Intermediate) and Claire Verstuyft (Junior). Lambs winners were Miles Hale (Senior), Briggs Davenport (Intermediate) and Cora Yeaman (Junior).

  In the Real County Showmanship Scholarship program, pee wee winners were Raelynn Keich (Rabbits), Reba Whitlock (Goats), and Caroline Upchurch (Broilers). Junior division honorees were Kylie Haecker (Rabbits), Kinley Chisum (Goats and Lambs), Millie Duke (Swine), Amira Carbajal (Broilers), Sunny Teague (Horses) and Addison Baker (Angoras). Senior division awards went to Jordyn Lindstrom (Rabbits and Horses), Bricen Salazar (Goats), Mason Hamilton (Lambs), Maggie Duke (Swine), Kyle Johnson (Broilers) and Chase Baker (Angoras).

Zavala County’s 2026 Showmanship Scholarship winners included, in the Junior Division, Lucas Hurst (Steers), Justin Graciano (Goats), Brody Zimmerman (Lambs), and Marcus Avila Jr. (Swine). Intermediate Division honorees were McKynze Rangel (Goats), Maylee Zimmerman (Lambs), and Jocelyn Maldonado (Swine). Senior Division scholarships were awarded to Markus Montellano (Steers), Nathan Martinez (Goats), Italia Aviles (Lambs), and Aranda Vasquez (Swine).

“These scholarships honor the hard work, dedication and leadership our youth demonstrate in the show ring, and they also create a bridge from the county fairgrounds to college classrooms,” said Dr. Hector Gonzales, SWTX President. “We are excited to welcome these students to Southwest Texas College and support them as they pursue their educational and career goals in agriculture and beyond.”

The Showmanship Scholarship may be applied toward tuition and fees at SWTX by recipients who enroll as college students after high school. For more information about scholarships and financial aid opportunities at Southwest Texas College, visit the college’s scholarships webpage or contact the Financial Aid Office at (830) 591-7318.

About Southwest Texas College
Southwest Texas College is a regional, “open door” institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. Since 1946 SWTX has provided accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region. The company’s mission is to enrich lives and advance growth through the education of our diverse communities.

To learn more about SWTX, visit swtxc.edu. For more information on this story, contact Ismael Martinez, SWTX Social Media/Public Relations Specialist at 830-591-2942 or imartinez@swtxc.edu.

Press Release from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

03-03-26

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

02-22-26

  Many elected officials as well as local government entities and law enforcement officials and other agencies often post their respective “press releases” directly to their respective Facebook pages.

  Occasionally one of these will contact the Uvalde Hesperian and ask if their “press release” could be copied and pasted and run as an article on the Uvalde Hesperian news website?  As the publisher of the Uvalde Hesperian, the answer with some rare exceptions, will generally be “No”.

  Some government officials and politicians find it easier to bypass both traditional and digital news media and just share on their Facebook pages.

  While this is an option, for sure, Facebook is a for-profit quasi-government platform and a “press release” or “news release” becomes a newsletter article for followers or fans.

  The Uvalde Hesperian and other serious news outlets strive to publish original news content or news releases specifically for the press. You will see some of the latter published on the Uvalde Hesperian.

  If something is published on Facebook first, then every other news outlet is an afterthought. 

  As for individuals who contact the Uvalde Hesperian and say, ” I published something really good on my Facebook page, can you run it? Again, with a few exceptions, the answer is “No.”

  While in the past, The Hesperian has published complete content from Facebook, it will not anymore.

  Social media has made actual news reporting outlets work much harder to generate authentic news and also as a place for actual press releases meant for the press and the general public rather than affinity groups that follow said political and/or government entities.

  While Facebook pages do reach a lot of people, “news” shared only on specific Facebook pages, such news does not reach a wide audience.

  Many news reporting outlets view political/government or agency Facebook posts as a prompt to dig deeper and ask hard questions and expand the topic adding more information.

The public has access to more information than ever before, but curated news directly published to Facebook, X, or TikTok by government agencies and officials is news published with an official filter. 

It is and has always been the calling of news reporting outlets to dig deeper and ask, “What is really going on here?”

Top Photo: File Photo from the Uvalde Hesperian archive

Press release from Senator Roland Gutierrez

 02-20-26 (AUSTIN, TX) – Yesterday, Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez demanded the Texas Department of Public Safety answer questions on whether Texas state resources are being used to target and harass Latinos under the guise of enforcing immigration law.

  “Texas Latinos and immigrant children are being targeted by brutal and barely trained ICE agents. They are terrorizing U.S. citizens, separating families, deporting months-old babies, and raiding the dorms of whistleblowers. This cruelty and inhumanity has no place in our Nation, let alone our great state,” said Senator Gutierrez.

  “I am demanding a full account of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s involvement in the targeting of Latino communities and immigrant children in our state. I will not stand by or be silent while our communities are being traumatized by the people currently in power.”

Senator Gutierrez has demanded in an open records request that Texas DPS provide the following information:

·      Any and all documents concerning immigration enforcement strategies targeting Latino communities in Texas in the last 120 days;

·      Any and all documents concerning immigration enforcement strategies targeting recipients of Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the last 120 days;

·      Any and all documents concerning immigration enforcement strategies targeting immigrant children in Texas schools in the last 120 days;

·      Any communications from, to or between DPS and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or any federal agency within DHS concerning immigration enforcement strategies in Texas targeting Latino communities, DACA recipients, or immigrant children in Texas schools;

·      Any communications from, to, or between DPS and the Office of the Governor of Texas concerning immigration enforcement strategies in Texas targeting Latino communities, DACA recipients, or immigrant children in Texas schools.

Senator Gutierrez’s open records request can be viewed here in full.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

02-20-26

More information was received by the Uvalde Hesperian on the Monday morning February 16th accident involving a SPXINC tractor trailer and a Union Pacific train which occurred in Knippa.

Immediately following the accident, the Hesperian reached out to SPX, Union Pacific and Texas DPS for information on the incident.

  On the same day of the accident, the Hesperian received the following statement from Union Pacific: “At 9 a.m. CST today, a Union Pacific train collided with the backend of a semi trailer truck on the tracks in Knippa, Texas. Neither the train crew nor the driver of the truck was injured. The incident occurred near the intersection of E. Main St and FM1049. The Texas Highway Patrol responded,” Robynn Tysver Mgr. II Communications of Union Pacific Railroad said.

Also on Monday February 16th, SPXINC General Manager Mario C. Garcia responded to the Hesperian and said, “I appreciate the pictures and looks like traffic held us up and driver could not move forward anymore.”

  Texas Department of Public Safety Staff Sergeant Rene Cordova sent the following report on the accident to the Uvalde Hesperian earlier today, Friday, February 20th.

‘Synopsis: On February 16th, 2026, at approximately 8:45 am, a train collided with a truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer in Knippa, Texas.

  The truck-tractor trailer combo was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of US Highway 90 on FM 1049. The rear of the semi-trailer was on the railroad tracks as the truck-tractor was stopped. As the truck-tractor trailer combo was stopped waiting for a safe opportunity to attempt a right turn onto US 90, a train began approaching from the west.

  Due to the semi-trailer being on the railroad tracks and unable to travel forward, the train struck the semi-trailer in the right rear, causing the semi-trailer to strike a railroad crossing arm, knocking it down. After the collision, the train came to a stop on the railroad tracks and the truck-tractor trailer combo came to rest in the outside lane of the westbound lanes of US 90.’

Since the accident, Union Pacific railroad employees have been seen this week replacing the signal located at the crossing where the accident occurred. 

Press release from Southwest Texas College                                                                                                                  2/18/26

  (Uvalde, Texas) Southwest Texas College expresses its gratitude to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for a one-time donation of $60,000 to support the Cowboy Pantry and Student Resource Center.

  For more than 30 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God.” In response to recent and ongoing changes in federal funding, the organization has stepped forward to provide emergency resources to groups addressing urgent community needs.

  The donation will help Southwest Texas College meet essential student needs, ensuring that students and families across the college’s service area continue to receive critical support during times of uncertainty.

​ “We are profoundly grateful to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for their $60,000 donation to the Cowboy Pantry & Student Resource Center,” said Vannesa Gutierrez, DHSI-VIDA project manager. “This generous support reflects their enduring mission of serving humanity and will ensure our students receive vital resources amid uncertain times, truly embodying compassion in action.”

​ Southwest Texas College officials said they are thankful for Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ leadership, compassion and continued investment in the well-being of local communities.

  About Southwest Texas College
  Southwest Texas College is a regional, “open door” institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. Since 1946 SWTX has provided accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region. The company’s mission is to enrich lives and advance growth through the education of our diverse communities.

   To learn more about SWTX, visit swtxc.edu. For more information on this story, contact Ismael Martinez, SWTX Social Media/Public Relations Specialist at 830-591-2942 or imartinez@swtxc.edu.

Press release from Southwest Texas College

2/14/26

(Uvalde, Texas) Southwest Texas College is proud to announce that its Emergency Medical Services Professions – Paramedic education program has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This prestigious accreditation underscores SWTX’s commitment to providing high-quality education and training that meets the national quality assurance standards established by CAAHEP.

“Earning CAAHEP accreditation in Emergency Medical Services Professions – Paramedic underscores our institution’s commitment to high-quality health sciences education for the region,” said Dr. Hector Gonzales, President of Southwest Texas College. “These accreditations affirm the outstanding work of our faculty, staff, and clinical partners who support students from classroom to clinical practice.”

  CAAHEP Accreditation Benefits Students, Employers, and the Public

CAAHEP accreditation offers significant advantages for students, graduates, and employers alike. For students, it ensures a high-quality educational experience that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies essential for success in their chosen health profession. Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs are highly sought after by employers, opening doors to enhanced job opportunities and career growth. Additionally, many professional certification bodies require graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited program for eligibility to sit for certification exams—an essential step

toward licensure and professional practice.

Employers can trust that graduates from CAAHEP-accredited programs are well-prepared to meet the ever-evolving demands of the healthcare field. These graduates bring a strong foundation of knowledge and practical experience, enabling them to deliver high-quality care and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Dr. Barry S. Eckert, President of CAAHEP, emphasizes the importance of accreditation: “Choosing a CAAHEP-accredited program is crucial for students seeking a career in allied health. It ensures that they receive an education that is both comprehensive and relevant to current industry needs, ultimately benefiting their future employers and people receiving care.”

A Commitment to Excellence in Allied Health Education

At Southwest Texas College (SWTX), we are committed to fostering excellence in allied health education and preparing the next generation of skilled healthcare professionals. For more information about our accredited Emergency Medical Services Professions – Paramedic program, please visit swtxc.edu or contact Luis Gonzales, Emergency Medical Technician Coordinator, at (830) 758-4137or via email at logonzalez@swtxc.edu.

About Southwest Texas College
SWTX is a regional, “open door” institution serving an 11-county area that stretches from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. Since 1946 SWTX has provided accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region. The company’s mission is to enrich lives and advance growth through the education of our diverse communities. To learn more about SWTX, visit swtxc.edu. For more information on this story, contact Ismael Martinez, SWTX Public Relations/ Social Media Specialist at 830-591-2942 or imartinez@swtxc.edu.