Volume 5 - Number 19 ......4 — VOICES UNITED PUBLICATION OF VICTORIA • Spring 2013 • Nazareth Academy 206 W. Convent Street …

by Lauri VossCareer & Technical Education

Coordinator

As a parent of a high school student, do you dream of your child buying his or her first truck, boat or home? Do you dream of not having to write that expensive college tuition check? Do you anxiously await a time when your child will pay for your din-ner and movie tickets? Well, if you are a parent of a VISD student, the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department wants you to know that a multitude of career pathways are avail-able to all students. CTE courses offer students financial independence by leav-ing high school with an industry-standard certification and critical skills needed to be successful in the 21st century workforce.

CTE introduces elementary-aged stu-dents to career pathways and professions by active participation in CTE Roadshows.

VISD students who have completed two years of upper-level study in a CTE career pathway demon-strate their talents and abilities and share their educational knowledge of project-based learning ex-periences. Feel free to ask your fifth grader if he or she has had the opportuni-ty to see how law enforce-ment students conduct mock crime scene investi-gations, or how robots and

rockets work.If your child is a middle school stu-

dent, you can inquire as to what your child learned in his or her sixth-grade Exploring Careers course. The course utilizes Ca-reer Cruising, an online career and college guidance planning tool, to allow students a chance to investigate career pathways. This is a fun and innovative resource, and one that is free to VISD students. Each stu-dent has access to an online profile, so par-ents can stay informed of their student’s

by aLLison miLes

Every person has the chance to make a real dif-ference. All it takes is a bit of heart, plenty of drive and, of course, some time management.

At least, that’s Omar Rachid’s strategy.

“I truly believe that, if you have the commitment and dedication, you can always find the time,” he said. “Oftentimes we think we are busy – and we are – but we’re afraid to take on commitments. But many times these volunteer jobs don’t require more than one or two hours a month of your time. When you start thinking about it, it’s really not that much.”

Through his work with organizations such as the Golden Crescent YMCA, The-atre Victoria, Mid-Coast Family service and many more, Rachid makes it a point to do his part for the Crossroads.

Rachid was born and raised in Tripoli, Lebanon, and studied administration and

architecture at the Univer-sity of Paris-Sarbonne. The businessman worked in Baghdad, Iraq after earn-ing his bachelor’s degree, but immigrated to Dallas in 1983.

The transition was an interesting one – more en-tertaining than anything, he said – largely because he didn’t know the language.

“I had to fend for my-self,” he said with a chuckle. “And there were some funny

encounters. But it didn’t deter me. When I realized I would be here for a while, that was the push it took for me to realize I needed to go and get the formal English as a Second Language education. Which I did.”

Rachid went on to earn United States citizenship in 1990, he said, and came to Victoria four years later for work with Cir-cle K.

The Crossroads proved to be a good fit.“I liked the city and what it had to offer.

It really gave me a sense of community,” he

by Dr. PhiLiP D. CastiLLePresident, UHV

The University of Hous-ton-Victoria is wrapping up its 2012-2013 school year while in the midst of cele-brating its 40th anniversary, 1973-2013. I am reminded of how much we’ve accom-plished and how many excit-ing projects we have under way.

The 40th anniversary celebration started in Au-gust with a groundbreaking for the new Jaguar Suites sophomore residence hall and has contin-ued all school year. A website with a time-line about the university’s history, notable alumni and anniversary celebrations is available at 40th.uhv.edu. There, you will find news about what’s going on at UHV.

For example, for the first time, UHV’s

School of Business Admin-istration graduate pro-gram was ranked in March as one of the “Best Gradu-ate Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report. The School of Nursing also was ranked based on a previ-ous survey that was re-published.

In the spring, UHV started the Provost’s Lecture Series to bring more historical insight to Victoria. Featured speak-ers were Wesley Hogan in January talking about

Victoria civil rights activist Casey Hayden and Douglas Foster in April discussing the state of South Africa.

We were excited to launch the new $10,000 Degree in Three (Dn3) program, a way for highly motivated students to earn an undergraduate degree at a bargain

by aLLison miLes

From homework stress to trouble with friends and other ev-eryday challenges, high school can be difficult. Factor in other issues, and that same place can seem insurmountable.

One administrator is doing her part, however, to make sure students have that support they need.

Cheborah “Shay” Ross, assistant principal at Victoria’s Lib-erty Academy, said she makes it a point to know the kids who walk through the halls each day.

“I know all the students on campus by name and they know me. I talk to them,” she said. “When I see them in the hall I’ll ask how they did on a project, or how a test went. In a sense, in this role, they look up

to you. And I want to have a positive impact.”

Liberty Academy con-sists primarily of at-risk youth, she said, noting that 75 percent or more of the population is homeless or comes from broken homes.

With a math teacher for a mother and a family that encouraged learning, Ross said her interest in educa-tion was homegrown. She recalled spending time with Mom at school sporting

events, Future Teachers of America meet-ings – Ross was a member, her mother a sponsor – and so on.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Hous-ton-Victoria and went on to earn her mas-ter’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the same school.

The Victoria native taught math at

www.voicesunitedpublicationofvictoria.comVolume 5 - Number 19 SPRING 2013

Celebrating exCellenCe in eduCation

See ROSS, pg 17

See RACHID, pg 20 See CTE, pg 20

See UHV, pg 19

Cheborah “Shay” Ross

Omar Rachid Many career paths available at CTE

UHV experiences positive changes in 40th year

CASTILLE

VOSS

2 — VOICES UNITED PUBLICATION OF VICTORIA • Spring 2013 • www.voicesunitedpublicationofvictoria.com

Publisher’s Message WhaT’s iNsiDe

stuDentsPotLiGht

PG. 8 - 9

TO DO LIST:Exercise your Right to VOTE!!!

Field of Honor Flag Presentation

Wounded Warriors Weekend

Lend a Helping Hand “Community Service” Be Prepared, Have a Plan for your future! (College, Workforce Certification, Technical Training, The Arts?)

Exercise your Right to READ!!!

Have a Happy & Safe Summer!

www.voicesunitedpublicationofvictoria.com • Spring 2013 • VOICES UNITED PUBLICATION OF VICTORIA — 3

Have you ever seen what a fire-fighter goes through every day?

Do you ever wonder why they are called “The Brav-est”?

Do you ever wish you could do something to help them?

These questions and more would be answered if you were a member of the “Victoria Civil-ian Fire Academy Alumni Association” (VCFAAA). Civilians formed this non-profit organization to assist our Victoria firefighters in non-operational ways. They give a bit of relief and extra man-power to events and activities that promote fire/life safety in our community.

VCFAAA volunteers donate countless hours to community activities throughout the year working with many organizations such as The United Way, Habitat for Hu-manity, Victoria Fine Arts, Crime Stoppers, Red Cross, and the Guardians of the Rib-bon along with assisting the Victoria Fire

Department (VFD) with Life Safety Educa-tion, Smoke Alarm Installations and First Aid Stations.

VCFAAA members also respond when called to “Rehab” the firefighters and emergency responders on an emergency scene. This means they provide rehabilita-tion in the form of electrolyte drinks, food and a rest area to the frrefighters and all first responders. They service an area of

See FIREFIGHERS, pg 17

Left to Right-Tony Garza, President; Louis Rodriguez, Secretary; John Arrieta, Vice President; Ray Morales, Treasurer, and Danny Garcia

The Victoria Sembradores Educational Foundation elects

officers for 2013.

Victoria Civilian Fire Academy Alumni Association OfficersSeated L-R Jeanie Fossati- President, Helen Grant- Secretary; Standing: David Fisher- Vice President, Victoria Fire Chief Taner Drake and Dave Fossati- Treasurer

Victoria Civilian Fire Academy Alumni Association


Nazareth Academy206 W. Convent StreetVictoria, Texas 77901(361) 573-6651

To Teach, To Build, To Serve in the Spirit of Christ

www.nazarethacademy.org

• Secure and Safe Environment• Well-Diversified Student Body• Religious Environment:

All challenged to be the light of Christ to their fellow classmates and teachers; Prayer; Christian witness and service

• Strong Academics• Leading Technology:

Smart Boards in every classroom K-8; 25-station latest software computer lab• Well-rounded Fine Arts Program:

Band, Choir, Art, Music• Sports:

Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Track, Softball, Drill Team and Cheerleading• RenWeb:

Parent communication/accessing grades and assigned work

by sisters of iWbs

Nazareth Academy is cele-brating its 146th year in forming young lives. In December, 1866, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament were in-vited to Victoria to begin teach-ing the youth of the city. Led by Mother St. Claire Valentine, the Sisters journeyed to Victoria. When they arrived, Mother St. Claire said that this new home would be called Nazareth, after the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph’s first home. Naza-reth Academy opened its doors on January 7, 1867, hosting day-students and boarders.

Today, Nazareth Academy has a well-diversified student body. In the 2012-2013 school year, the student body is 49% Anglo, 30% Hispanic, and 21% multi-racial/other races. The diverse student body along with Naza-reth’s Catholic environment helps students learn to accept others, appreciate their differences, and celebrate diversity. In ad-dition, two thirds of the student body is Catholic; thus, being Catholic is not a pre-requisite for attending. Nazareth averages approximately 305 students in the Pre-K3 through Grade 8 and continues to provide a quality, well-rounded academic program in a safe environment. Current educational

programs include Math, Science, History, Language Arts, Social Studies, Religion, Spanish, Computer Literacy, Journalism, Home Economics, Art, Music, and Physical Education. Algebra is offered to accelerat-ed 8th grade Math students. Students have the opportunity to compete in a variety of contests such as Math Counts, PSIA (Pri-vate School Interscholastic Association), Spelling Bees, and Band and Choir com-petitions. A wide variety of sports are of-fered as well. The highlight of each week is the Mass that is celebrated at St. Mary’s Church or at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

Each day is begun and ended with prayer as prayer is stressed throughout the day. The Eucharistic celebration, the class-room, and extra-curricular activities are all vehicles for teaching the Gospel message, calling us to a life of Christian witness and service based on the ministry of Jesus. The legacy of the founding Sisters has been faithfully and successfully carried on into the third millennium.

Nazareth Academy’s mission is to teach, to build and to serve in the spirit of Christ. This includes maintaining a loving, Christian community in a setting that sup-ports the optimum development of each individual spiritually, intellectually, socially,

culturally, and physically. Nazareth is seen as an extension of the student’s family. The school family has supportive parents, cer-tified teachers who love teaching at Naza-reth, a great family spirit, and happy chil-dren.

Since its opening, thousands of stu-dents have walked the halls of Nazareth where they have received spiritual and academic foundations. Many of its alumnae serve as spiritual and civic leaders in their communities.

Nazareth Academy has enjoyed a long tradition in education and would be proud to partner with you in the education of your children.

Nazareth Academy: Celebrating 146 years of traditional excellence


Flag Posting: May 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. The field is next to Faith Family Church, 2002 E. Mockingird Ln.

Dedication Ceremony: May 14, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. Dedication to the Field of Honor will include fireworks! Field is next to Faith Family Church.

Welcome Ceremony: May 17, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at Faith Family Church. Defenders of Freedom are escorted into town to a Welcome Ceremony at Faith Family Church. After the ceremony, they will be escorted to Port O’Connor to participate in Warrior’s Weekend.

Warrior’s Weekend; May 17-19, 2013 at Port O’Connor, Texas.You can also sponsor a flag for a Wounded Soldier, and then meet them at the

Welcome Ceremony and on the Field of Honor on May 17th. Flag sponsorships can still be purchased for $40!

“Honor a Veteran, Encourage a Soldier...Sponsor a Flag!”

The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent’s

Sweetheart Ball 2013This spectacular evening featured great food, lively dancing, and soulful music,

as well as a live and silent auction. The net proceeds of $20,000 will be used to feed the hungry in the Golden Crescent service area. The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent is grateful to the following sponsors for their generous support of this event and of our guiding mission of “helping heal the hurt of hunger” in our area”:

titLe sPonsorH-E-B Corporation

DiamonD sPonsor

O’Connor-Hewitt Foundation

emeraLD sPonsorAlcoa

saPPhire sPonsors

Tammy BarbenRev2 Properties

Victoria AdvocateTwin Fountains Medical Clinic

Sheriff T. Michael and LuAnn O’ConnorKMH Wealth Management / Keller &

Associates, CPAs

ruby sPonsorsRegional Steel Products

Lodestone Financial ServicesNew Distributing/Fastop StoresUniversity of Houston - Victoria

meDia sPonsorsRevista de Victoria

Victoria Radio Works Victoria Television Group

OSCIA Production EnterprisesVoices United Publication of Victoria

in-KinD sPonsors

Lynn & Tim MioriDel Papa Distributing

Performance Food Group

Col. (Ret.) Michael Petrash U.S.A, Director Wounded Warriors Field of Honor


by Dr. JosePh ParKerVictoria Eye Center

Let’s face it. Nobody wants to get old. We actu-ally fight it with every fiber of our being. We could probably solve our nation-al debt with all the money that we spend on anti-ag-ing items; creams for this, color for that, lift this and tuck that; all in a futile ef-fort to look young forever. Don’t get me wrong, it sure beats the alternative. But, how many have gotten excited with the idea that it was time for a bifocal? For those in their 40s, the onset and admission of the need for reading glasses marks a life long struggle with Father Time. Well, there is one solution that might help you continue to be in denial for a few more years: contact lenses. Contacts are not for everybody, but for those who are candidates, it could be just the solution you’ve been looking for. I’d like to discuss some contact lens options so you can get an idea if this vision correcting modality is right for you.

One option is called “monovision”. In monovision your doctor will try to cor-rect one of your eyes for distance and cor-rect the other eye for up close. This will effectively allow you to see distance and up close without the need for glasses, and for 80% of people who try this option, it works great. But, it is not without fault. One will always see better with two eyes focused at the same object, than with just one eye. So, patients will often times notice a moder-ate drop in their dis-tance vision, but the advantage is they are

now able to see up close. Thus, there is a modest compromise to distance vision. Also, some might find that objects at arm’s length are blurry. This is because those ob-jects are too close for the “distance” eye but too far away for the “near” eye. For those

by sanDra ryan

For 28 years, not-for-profit Hospice of South Texas has been dedicated to providing compassionate comfort care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones within our eleven county service area.

“The doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and nurse aides cannot hope to carry out this mis-sion without the valuable contributions of many dedi-cated hospice volunteers,” said Sandra Ryan, Director of Volunteer and Bereave-ment Services.

Hospice volunteers enhance quality of care delivered to patients and families, help to maximize program and family resources, and provide community participation in the delivery of hospice care.

“Hospice volunteers can choose their paths of service,” said Ryan. They may provide direct assistance as Patient Com-panions or caregiver supporters. Working as a hospice team member, their services can include reading to a patient, running errands, hair care, offering time-out for

caregivers, playing dominos, simply listen-ing, or providing Lay Pastoral Care. Be-reavement volunteers befriend survivors and offer emotional support in the months follow-ing the death of their loved one. They may send mailings of grief materials, make phone contacts, help with Services of Remem-brance, and encourage grief support workshop attendance. Our next Grief Group will meet at the HOST Victoria office, at 605 E. Locust Ave, Mondays, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., May

6 through June 10, 2013. The sessions are free and open to anyone who has experi-enced a loss.

The volunteers provide an extra di-mension of loving friendship for patients and their families and to walk beside fam-ily members in their grief. “By finding it in their hearts to do this,” Ryan said, “they honor life itself and make the loving part of hospice care more visible and tangible.”

YOUR HEALTHVolunteers: The Heart of Hospice of South Texas

RYAN

PARKER

So you want to try contacts?

See CONTACTS, pg 13 See HOSPICE, pg 13


SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU

BEST WAYS TO DO BUSINESS WITH

SOCIAL SECURITYby sheryL sChroeDerSocial Security Public Affairs Specialist in Brenham

Many people save time by going on-line to take care of everyday tasks. For ex-ample, they shop online to avoid going to crowded malls or stores. They pay bills and check their account balances online to save a trip to the bank.

It’s true of Social Security business, too. You can save a lot of time by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov.

Here, you can handle much of your So-cial Security business quickly and securely from your home or office computer. At the Social Security website you can —

• create a my Social Security account for quick access to your information;

• get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits;

• apply for retirement, disability, spouse’s, and Medicare benefits;

• check the status of your benefit ap-plication;

• change your address and phone number, if you receive monthly Social Se-curity benefits;

• sign-up for direct deposit of Social Security benefits;

• use our benefit planners to help you better understand your Social Security options as you plan for your financial fu-ture;

• request a re-placement Medicare card; and

• apply for Extra Help with your Medi-care prescription drug costs.

Looking for more Social Security information? Go online to find out almost anything you need to know about the Social Security program. Information is avail-able on subjects ranging from how to get a Social Security number for a newborn to returning to work while receiving disability benefits.

And since April 22 is Earth Day, here’s another tip: going online is good for the planet. It saves more than just your time — it also saves paper, emissions, and energy.

If you need to reach us by phone, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide in-formation by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated

response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hear-ing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

No matter how you choose to contact us, Social Security is here to assist you. We en-courage you to give our website a try. You’ll get fast, convenient service by going to www.so-cialsecurity.gov.

YOUR NUMBER IS YOUR CARD

Often times, people decide they need to apply for a new Social Security card be-cause they can’t find their old one. As long as you have all of the required information and documentation, it’s not difficult to ob-tain a replacement Social Security card. But here’s even better news: you probably don’t need the card.

When you think about it, your Social Security number is your Social Security card. That is, knowing your number is usu-ally all you’ll ever need. Know your number by heart, and you’ll never leave home with-

out it.In the event that you really do want or

need to get a replacement card, either for yourself or for a child, you can find all the details at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnum-ber. The “Get Or Replace a Social Security Card” page provides information on how to obtain a replacement card and what spe-cific documents you need to provide. Each situation is unique, but in most cases you simply need to print, complete, and either mail or bring the application to Social Se-curity with the appropriate documentation (originals or certified copies only).

In almost all cases, though, an appli-cation for your newborn’s Social Security card and number is taken in the hospital at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth certificate.

There are a number of reasons a baby or child may need a Social Security num-ber, but the main one is so that you can claim your child as a dependent on your tax return. Your child also will need a Social Security number to apply for certain gov-ernment and social service benefits.

Whether you need a Social Security card for yourself or your child, it’s easy to apply for one. But remember: if you already have one and just can’t find it, in most cases all you really need is to know your number. Memorize your Social Security number, and you’ll never leave home without it.

Learn more about your Social Security card and number at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.


STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Melissa Clark, 18Valedictorian

Victoria East High School, 12th

academic recognition/awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Scholar, Top Science Student (2011), Top Social Studies Student (2010)

activities: NASA High School Aerospace Scholar, UHV Robotics Research Internship, Garcia Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Research

teams/Clubs: Debate Club, UIL Math and Spelling Competitions

favorite subject: Biology

Community service: National Honor Society (secretary), Interact Club (secretary)

hobbies: Reading, shopping, outdoor activities, travelling

College Plans: Stanford University studying biochemistry

Parent(s): Randall and Cheryl Clark

Steven Lin, 18Salutatorian

Victoria East High School, 12th

academic recognition/awards: Salutatorian, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar, VISD Academic Achievement Award 5th-12th, Boy’s State, Mathematics Award 9th-11th, and 1st place Knowledge Bowl Team.

teams/Clubs: Swim Team, Interact Club, Leo Club, Student Leadership Team, and NHS.

favorite subject: Science

Community service: Big Event, Fall Festival, Rio Grande Valley Church Ministry, Summer Music Camp, VISD Teacher’s Commencement, and Union Gospel Ministry in Dallas.

hobbies: Reading, eating, and sleeping.

College Plans: Attending University of Texas at Austin Biology major.

Parent(s): Jeannie Hwang, Alan Lin

Nicole Easley, 14Nazareth Academy, 8th

academics recognition/honors: St. Joseph High School Partnership Initiative Leadership Scholarship recipient,Honor Roll, Softball and Volleyball player awards

teams/Clubs: Nazareth Academy Volleyball and Softball teams,Student Council, Aloe 4-H, Club Officer Member of and Altar Server at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, School Aide

favorite subject: American History

hobbies & activities: Hunting and Fishing, Working with her pigs and heifers for stock show

high school plans: Plans to attend St. Joseph High School next fall

Parents: Kenneth and Heidi Easley (and younger brother Clayton Easley)

Autia McCurry, 18Victoria East High School, 12th

academic recognition/awards: Top 7%; “A” Honor roll

teams/Clubs: Marching Band; Concert Band; HOSA; Interact Club

favorite subject: Mathematics

Community service: Involved in fine arts at Faith Family Church.

hobbies: Play in the VEHS wind ensemble; I have reduced my hobbies during my senior year to focus on school and maintain two part-time jobs.

College Plans: Attend Texas State University in the fall and further my education at the University of Houston to attend Pharmacy School.

Parent(s): Gregory & Cynthia McCurry

Jasmeen Larbie 18Victoria East High School, 12th

academic recognition/awards: ”A” Honor Roll

teams/Clubs: National Honor Society

favorite subject: Mathematics

Community service: Tutoring

hobbies: Singing

College Plans: To pursue a degree in Accounting and Mathematics at Corpus Christi A&M

Parent(s): Nona and Paul Larbie

Skyla Caviel, 18Victoria East High School, 12th

academic recognition/awards: Top Ten Percentile, All District in Academics for Soccer

Teams/Clubs: Varsity Soccer, Business Professionals of America (Presi-dent), Student Council (Vice President)

Favorite Subject: English

Community service: Interact Club (Vice President), soccer clinics, nursing homes

hobbies: Soccer, exercise, and singing.

College Plans: Victoria College for a year, then transfer to the University of Houston

Parent(s): Patrick Caviel


STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Isaiah Davis, 10DeLeon Elementary, 5th

academic recognition/awards: ”A” Honor Roll, Top 3rd Academic Student 2012-2013 - 5th grade class, VISD Board of Trustees Award of Excellence 2012-2013

teams/Clubs: EarlyAct FirstKnight Service Club President 2012-2013, EarlyAct FirstKnight Service Club Vice-President 2011-2012, Mt. Calvary Mission-ary Baptist Church – Youth Usher

Favorite Subject: Math

hobbies: Basketball

Plans to attend Howell Middle School

Parents: Dwight & Andrea Davis

Quentin Jones, 18Victoria East High School, 12th

awards: A/B Honor Roll, AVID Student of the Year 2012, Student Leader 2008 – 2012, State Soloist 2012 – 2013,

Clubs: Choir & Vocal Ensemble 2010 - 2012, AVID 2008 – 2013, Stu-dent Leadership Team 2008 – 2013, TEME 2010 - 2012

Favorite Subject: English

Community service: Harris Poll Letters, Convocation 2008 – 2012, Helping with Kids for Christ at Genesis Center, Summer Reading Program Mentor Refugio Library

Hobbies: Music, Writing, Family

College Plans: Attend Victoria College for pre-requisites, transfer to Texas State University to pursue my dream of teaching choral style music.

Parent(s): Ryan and Alisa Jones

Christobal Andres Saenz, 17Valedictorian

Victoria West High School, Senior

academic recognition/awards: AP Scholar, National Merit Scholar Competitor

teams/Clubs: NHS, Leo Club, Freshman cross country, Math & Science UIL, Academic Challenge

favorite subject: Calculus

Community service: Tutor, Victoria Highway lean up,Hobbies: Paintball, Reading, Programming, Car Work

College Plans: Attending University of Texas at Austin

Parents: Veronica Flores Lee & Glenn Scott Lee

Andrea Michelle DelosSantos, 17Salutatorian

Victoria West High School, Senior

academic recognition/awards: VESD Excellence Award (6 times), President’s Gold Scholarship from Baylor for SAT Scores, Social Studies Student of the year, Above and Beyond Award, Integrity Award, Discipline Award, Top 5 of Class 2010-2013

teams/Clubs; Drill Team (Lt. Colonel), NHS (Secretary), Student Council (Parliamentarian),Key Club, VISD Leadership and Strategic Planning Team, West Leadership Team, Senior Class Secretary

favorite subject: Health Science & Anatomy

Community service: Adopt-A-Highway, ACTS Team, Blood Donor (6 times), Warriors Weekend2010 -2012, Habitat for Humanity, Mentoring Elementary Schools

hobbies: Dancing & Singing

College Plans: Attend Baylor University, majoring in Physical Therapy

Parents: Kim & Greg DelosSantos

Taylor-Courtney Malray, 18Victoria West High School, Senior

academic recognition/awards: VISD Academic Excellence Award (a.k.a. Top Ten Award) Two consecu-tive years, National Honor Society nominated to attend World Affairs Seminar in Wisconsin 2012, Section Leader/Lieutenant 2 consecutive Marching Band Sea-sons, Received Level Ones for Band Solos (2 years)

teams/Clubs: Student Council, Band, Softball

favorite subject: English

Community service: Projects affiliated with NHS and Softball Associations Adopt-A-Highway, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army

Hobbies: Softball, traveling, Family, Workouts

College Plans: Attend four year University (undecid-ed on choice of school at this time) major in Criminal Justice, attain a Masters

Parents: Claudia Malray-Penny & Billy Penny

Akeem Green, 18Victoria West High School, Senior

academic recognition/awards: AB honor Roll, Top 15% of Class

teams/Clubs: National Honor Society, Hosa Club, Basketball Team

favorite subject: Math

Community service: Church Retreat, VBS, Elemen-tary School Mentor

hobbies: Basketball, Church, Video Games

College Plans: Attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Parent: Nevine Green & Keith Green

James Murphy lll, 17Victoria West High School, Senior

academic recognition/awards: A Honor Roll, A/B Honor Roll

teams/Clubs: Christian Club, Varsity Basketball Team

favorite subject: Math

Community service: Mentor at Boys and Girls Club, Elementary School assistance and mentoring

hobbies: Basketball, Church, Video Games

College Plans: Attend College (undecided on choice of school at this time), major Engineering

Parent: James Murphy, Jr.


Volunteers Needed

For Victoria’s second annual Art Car Parade on Sat-urday May 18, we need volunteers to help with staging,

street blocking and crowd control down-town and then at The Nave from 10 am to 2 pm. After the parade, the festival will continue at The Nave until 4 pm, where we need volunteers to sell sodas and t-shirts, gather sign-ins from the crowd and help with minor clean up. All volunteers will receive a Nave t-shirt, and your hours will count towards the eight volunteer hours needed to earn a Nave Friend level mem-bership. Please reply to this email or call 361-575-8227 if you can help.

Did you know this is National Volun-teer Week? The Nave has been so fortu-nate this year to have amazing volunteers, and we thank you – you know who you are!

Become a fan of Art Car Victoria on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArtCar-Victoria

School & Group Tours

Call our office at (361)575-8227 or send an email to [email protected]

to schedule a school or group tour. Tours can be tailored to your curriculum and scheduled anytime throughout the week. We look forward to pARTnering with you!

Visit our website www.navemuseum.com for details on current and upcoming exhibits.

NAVE HOURS:Tuesday-Sunday 12-4 pmThursday 12-7 pm(closed between exhibits)

BARGAIN BOUTIQUE NIGHT:Thursday is Bargain Boutique Night

at The Nave Gift Shop!You’ll find original works of art and ex-

traordinary items,with special discounts only on Thurs-

day nights from 4-7 pm.

NAVE SEASON SPONSORS• Sue McCan Cannon • City of Victoria • First Victoria National Bank• Ann & Jim Harithas * The O’Connor & Hewitt Foundation• Victoria Advocate: Presenting Sponsor • Victoria Television Group

Art Car Parade & Festival - May 18, 2013


Two local musicians inducted into Hall of Fame

On January 5, 2013 Natie Padierna and David Valadez, members of the band La Guerra Musical, were inducted into the Tejano Roots, Hall of Fame Museum, class of 2012, as members of the Million Dol-lar Band.


Food Bank of the Golden Cres-cent Executive Director Robin Cadle did an excellent job of

pulling things together. It was a fabulous event that raised net proceeds of $20,000.

by Oscar Hernandez-Perkins, President OSCIA Productions

T. Michael & LuAnn O’Connor, Clayton & Myra Johnson, Dr. Don & Lisa Breech and Dr. Peter & Julie Rojas

The Rick Perkins Band

Rick Perkins Ruben & Michael Velasques

Helen and Lee Ross Claud and Mary Virginia Jacobs

Robin and Nick Cadle


By ginny STAFFORDCEO, Mid-Coast Family Services

What does hope look like? The con-cept of hope is desirable, but often illusive. At Mid-Coast Family Services, we believe that hope is embodied in our people and programs.

For victims of family violence, hope is found in the Women’s Crisis Center. It’s a place of safety and quiet, where victims can gather themselves and their resources while they determine their future course. Here, we are also able to accommodate vic-tim’s pets who have often become a part of the family. Separately, perpetrators of fam-ily violence can find hope, too. We offer a 26-week class to help them learn how to com-municate with a partner without resorting to violence.

Persons affected by family violence or sexual assault can come to us for counsel-ing to help them learn how to cope with their trauma and help them move from be-ing victims to being survivors.

We strive to keep people from be-coming homeless and for those who are homeless, to “move them from homeless-ness to hope.” We are often able to help families who have hit a rough spot and just need temporary financial assistance to keep from losing their home so that we can give them “a hand up, not a hand out.” Our Gateway Project provides permanent housing for chronically homeless men who have a disability. We are looking to add a similar program for homeless women in the near future.

Of course, hope for the future lies in

our youth. One of our largest programs pro-vides alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention and intervention services in more than 50 schools throughout an 8 county area.

In a related program, for those who are struggling with addiction, we offer hope in the form of screenings and referrals to treatment programs or to other organiza-tions with supportive, informative outreach programs.

Finally, we know that hope is found in the team of professionals whose only job is to help victims overcome. We are here for you.

Mid-Coast Family Services:Giving women hope

STAFFORD

Other caring volunteers prefer to help indirectly with crucial administrative as-sistance, fundraising, community educa-tion, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, sewing blankets, gowns, pillows. Good Will Ambas-sadors serve area nursing facilities. The Hospice Singers comfort souls.

For non-patient care volunteering, there is a brief Volunteer Orientation and screening process. For Patient Compan-ioning, a required twenty-four hour Core Volunteer Training Course is offered at

least three times yearly. A spring Core Volunteer Training is

scheduled to run from May 7 through June 18, 2013 and is free of charge. Sessions are held at the Victoria Hospice Office, 605 E. Locust Ave, on Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Interested? For more information or to register, call Sandra Ryan or Julie Legler at 1-800-874-6908 or 361-572-4300, or write to Hospice of South Texas, 605 East Locust Ave, Victoria, TX 77901, or e-mail: [email protected]. Friend us on Facebook or check out our website: www.hospiceofsouthtexas.org

who really need this area to be clear, let’s consider our next option.

Another option is multifocal contact lenses. These lenses are designed in such a way that a patient will be able to see ob-jects that are far away, objects that are up close and objects that are in the interme-diate range. Intermediate refers to those things at arm’s length like the computer, a phone or the gages on your car. This sounds like the best thing since sliced bread, right? Well, while it is very good, it’s not perfect either. Think of this option as the “jack of all trades, master of none” op-tion. While multifocal contacts can do ev-erything, they are not great at anything. So

this option is not good for patients who are very particular about their vision and want things to be perfect.

The last option is “modified monovi-sion”. This is when your doctor will cor-rect your dominate eye with a contact lens for distance only and correct the other eye with a multifocal contact lens. This option allows a patient to have clearer vision at distance, but at the expense of some clarity at near. This option works surprisingly well in most patients.

At the end of the day, if you want to avoid the dreaded bifocal glasses and can live with a bit of visual compromise in or-der to keep Father Time away, you might be a good candidate for bifocal contact lens options. Be sure to talk to your eye doctor about these options the next time you’re in.

CONTACTS, from pg 6

HOSPICE, from pg 6

Next Issue Fall 2013


VISD Career and Technical Education Engineering Class winsFirst • Second • Third at UHV Cardboard Boat Competition

This school district and its Career and Technology Education Program does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, age or national origin in its educational programs, activities, or employment as required by Title IX, Section 504 and Title VI.

Este distrito escolar y su Programa Educacional de Carerra y Technologia no discriminan en base a sexo, disabilidad, raza, color, edad u origen nacional en sus programas educativos, actividades, o empleo como lo requiere el Titulo IX, Seccion 504 y Titulo VI.

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:• Third place with a prize of $200: (L-R) Nathan Hermes, Aaron Zapalac, David Bengtson, Damien Villarreal-Garcia• Second place with a prize of $400: (L-R) Daniel Cabellero, Robert Barrera, Jacob Strauss,• First place with a prize of $600: (L-R) Jaccob Nelson, John Ramirez, Dakota Heinhold, Jayce Jones

Cheryl Clark is the teacher and sponsor who motivates her students in their engineering

pursuits. The VISD students attend the Career and Technical Education Engineering class at the Victoria Center for Advanced Learning (VCAL).



11

by tim hornbaCKExecutive Director, CASA

In 2012 there were over 70,000 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in Texas. Now imagine being one of those children in the foster care system. You are disconnected from family members and placed with strang-ers. The faces that you see constantly change. This is when a Golden Crescent Court Appoint-ed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer can help. Golden Crescent CASA trains volunteers to become a constant presence in the life of a child abuse victim’s life and make sure these children don’t fall be-tween the cracks of an overburdened child welfare system.

What does a Golden Crescent CASA volunteer do? Our volunteers are trained to review school, medical, and caseworker reports and to spend time connecting with the child, parents, other family members, school personnel, healthcare providers, and attorneys – everyone involved in the child’s life. A Golden Crescent CASA vol-unteer speaks up for the child and provides

reports to the court in order to serve the child’s best interests.

What does it take to become a Golden Cres-cent CASA volunteer?

•Be over 21, people from all walks of life and gender volunteer

•Have a desire to help children

•Keep an objective mind and have the abil-ity to handle emotional situations with maturity

•Be aware of differ-ent cultures and ethnic sensitivity

•Have the commit-ment to complete our training

•Be able to attend scheduled court hear-ings

The experience of helping a child is a rewarding one. You can make the differ-ence. Golden Crescent CASA is currently seeking volunteers to serve in Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lava-ca, Refugio, and Victoria counties. Please call our Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Ramirez, to find out more information at (361) 573-3734 or (877) 473-3734. Flexible training schedules are available. Call to-day to help one of our 200 children needing a CASA volunteer.

Be a Golden Crescent CASA volunteer


Division is Not Victorian

It's not about being rich or poor.It's not about being young or old.It's not about being black, white

or brown.It's not about being Democrat or

Republican.And it's not even about North

Side or South Side.It's about being United and

taking the risks together.It's about being Victorian and

I'm ALL IN…Are you? -Gabriel Soliz

about 100,000 citizens in the community, and are on call 24 hours of the day for emer-gency response.

The members receive continuous hands on training from the VFD, along with training from Emergency Management, the Victoria Police Dept. and the Texas Dept. of State Health Services.

The VCFAAA depends on funds raised through fundraisers and individual dona-tions in order to continue their efforts. Ev-erything they earn goes back to support the firefighters and the community of Victoria.

If you want to be a part of this group and learn what it is like to walk in a fire-fighter’s boots, then give them a call.

For membership information call 361-648-9648.

Stroman High School, Calhoun High School and Liberty Academy, she said, explaining that it was experiencing students’ “aha moments” that let her know she was in the right profession.

“Math is one of those subjects that most students don’t like,” she explained. “By the time they’re in high school, they’ve had seven to eight years of not liking math. But once you show them how to work the problem, and see that light turn on, it’s re-warding. It feels good.”

Ross moved into administration two years ago and, although the role might be different, she said it’s equally rewarding. The job allows her the chance to impact more students, she said, and to help bring real change.

With cooperation among the faculty, staff and administration – and students’ knowledge of just what is expected of them – she said the school has seen major re-sults.

Liberty Academy’s attendance rate

sits near 95 percent.“With high school kids, that’s when you

start to see a lot of attendance problems,” she said. “They don’t always want to go to school. I’m excited to be a part of some-thing on campus where the kids do enjoy being there. We set the bar and they meet it.”

Ross encouraged students to reach for their goals and find the academic path that best suits them. If a traditional campus isn’t the right fit, something like Liberty Academy – which allows students to gradu-ate not only with a high school diploma, but an associate’s degree as well – might work.

There are options, she said. But what-ever the case, one must keep moving for-ward.

“I know it sounds like an old cliché to never give up, but it’s true. You shouldn’t,” she said. “Learning is a journey, and it’s one you should look forward to and enjoy. Find what works for you and keep going.”

Ross is married to Lee D. Ross and has two children; Dominique, 21, and De’Everett, 10.

ROSS, from pg 1

FIREFIGHTERS, from pg 3


by LaneLL mantey

When times get tough and hope seems lost, six little words can make a big differ-ence: “Do what you got to do.”

It’s that slogan that led University of Houston-Victoria sophomore Eliseo Olvera Jr. to rise up from his surroundings and make a difference to Crossroads kids.

Olvera came from Edgebrook, a South Houston neighborhood where crime, pov-erty, prostitution and drugs were part of everyday life. But with his parents always fighting, violence in the neighborhood - and two younger brothers watching his every move - he decided it was time for change.

A turning point came during a high school history lesson, when his teacher warned students that, if they remained in Edgebrook after graduation, they would never leave. Fueled by that motivation, and his “Do what you got to do” mantra, he set out to change his life.

Olvera took on AP classes, a new group of friends and got involved in sports. It was during his senior year of high school, when he got involved with AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination – that he be-gan to set his sights on college.

The teen met with a UHV recruiter who visited his school, although he be-lieved his past might dash any chances of getting into school. Another visit from the recruiter, encouragement from his mother and AVID teachers and scholarships to

fund his tuition, however, urged him to pur-sue that dream.

Olvera arrived in Victoria during fall of 2011, ready to not only better himself, but prove to his siblings that hard work and determination can get a person far. Little did he know his influence would extend to other area youth.

A visit from the Victoria Business and Education Coalition – better known as VBEC – sparked his interest for the Sure-BET Mentor program. SureBET pairs community members up with Victoria

PROFILE: ELISEO OLVERA

See OLVERA, pg 22

Larnzo Jr,: Victoria East High School, 11TH Grade: A/B Honor Roll, National Honor Society, HOSA Club: Goals: College Degree Sports Therapy! Youth Usher Mt. Nebo Baptist Church.

Lorenzo: Stroman Middle School , 7TH Grade: Above average grades, MVP Line

Backer Football 2012-2013, 2013 Track Team, CYFL: Goals: College Degree, play in the NFL. Youth Usher & Youth Choir at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church.

VOICES UNITED “THUMBS UP!”

The Johnson Family

Proud parents Larnzo Sr. & Katy Johnson: Sons Lorenzo and Larnzo Jr.


price. The program offers six differ-ent majors in the School of Arts & Sciences that can be completed in three years.

This year wasn’t all about new pro-grams, though. UHV once again partici-pated in long-standing local events such as February’s Black History Month, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. UHV hosted a lecture series; university students created posters depicting differ-ent parts of African American history; and area fifth-graders participated in a poster contest hosted by the Black History Steer-ing Committee, UHV and Victoria College. UHV held a similar celebration for Sep-tember’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Middle school students entered an art contest, and winners were honored at a reception hosted by UHV, Victoria College and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Council.

The university also had several new and exciting sporting events this year. As you probably know, UHV just became the first institution to host three Association of Independent Institutions conference championships at the same time. Teams from across the U.S. and Canada came to compete in Victoria in baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s golf. In February, UHV hosted the Claud Jacobs Collegiate Invitational Golf Tournament, which drew a strong field of men’s and women’s college teams from states as far away as California

and New York. I also would like to take this time to

point out that UHV has been working hard this year to create new programs and op-portunities for our more than 12,000 UHV alumni. The university’s alumni are en-couraged to register with the association at www.uhvconnect.org to stay abreast of the latest news.

Now that my second year as UHV president is coming to a close, I’m so proud of the positive changes the university has made for our students, alumni and the com-munity. I look forward to all the new possi-bilities that lie ahead in the remainder of our 40th anniversary year. Some upcoming events include the June 11 free ticket night at the Victoria Generals baseball game, a groundbreaking event for the new UHV Academic and Economic Development Building and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Jaguar Suites.

Dr. Philip D. Castille is the president of the University of Houston-Victoria.

UHV, from pg 1

Petur Vega knew he wanted to go to college to study biology, but he didn’t know exactly how to pay for it until a University of Houston-Victoria recruiter visited his San Antonio high school last year.

That is when Vega learned about the UHV Guarantee, a financial aid opportuni-ty for new freshmen and sophomores from outside the Victoria area whose families meet federally certified income require-ments.

“I was looking into attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas

A&M University-Corpus Christi, but with the UHV Guarantee, coming to school in Victoria ended up being the most afford-able of the three,” Vega said.

One year after it was introduced, Vega is one of 212 students taking advantage of the UHV Guarantee. Those students are receiving some or all of their tuition and fees paid while they pursue their bach-elor’s degree.

To qualify for the UHV Guarantee, freshmen and sophomores must first com-plete the Free Application for Federal Stu-dent Aid at www.fafsa.gov. Those whose families are documented to have an annual income of $50,000 or less may have all of their tuition and fees covered by federal, state and/or university aid. Those whose families have annual incomes from $50,001 to $90,000 may have 50 percent of their tu-ition and fees covered, and those with fam-ily incomes of more than $90,000 may re-ceive up to a $1,000 UHV scholarship.

Carolyn Mallory, UHV financial aid di-rector, said the UHV Guarantee has been a success in providing greater access to a higher education degree.

“The UHV Guarantee has benefited more than 200 students already,” she said. “It’s doing a good job drawing more stu-

UHV Guarantee helps more students afford college

VEGA

See GUARANTEE, pg 21


career interest, learning styles and college exploration. Computer Literacy is also an important CTE course taught to all sixth graders in VISD. Throughout the course, students develop important skills that will help them remain successful in school and life.

Eighth graders are rapidly chang-ing into young adults, so registration time for freshman year is a pivotal time for parents and students to consider career pathways. Counselors at middle and high schools are busy this time of year assist-ing students in registration. If you are not familiar with VISD CTE course offerings, please inquire at your student’s campus or online at www.visd.net/cte. New eighth grade elective courses include the Digi-tal Graphics and Information Technology (Di.G.I.T) course and the Principles of Ar-chitectural, Construction and Engineer-ing (P.A.C.E.) course. We realize it will be

a tough decision for the eighth graders to decide which path to take, as hands-on projects and cool software are part of both courses.

Each eighth grader in VISD has a six-year graduation degree plan which maps out the next four years of high school and the first two years of college or technical school. VISD CTE is here to assist parents and students in learning about ALL the educational opportunities that lead to life after high school. Exploring the variety of CTE courses at VISD can be a huge finan-cial savings for parents and an eye-opening experience for students. We encourage stu-dents to enroll in courses that drive their passion and ignite their interest to keep reaching for the stars.

VISD has six CTE schools of study including Agriculture and Industry, Arts and Humanities, Business and Marketing, Health and Medical, Science, Engineering and Technology, and Social, Personal and Public Services. CTE courses are available to all VISD students at Victoria East High

School and Victoria West High School. CTE programs that require a specialized cur-riculum and/or project-based learning en-vironment are offered at the Victoria Area Center for Advanced Learning (VCAL) or at the Career and Technology Institute (CTI).

The value of a highly skilled student in a specific field of study can have huge re-wards, both intrinsic and extrinsic. Gradu-ating high school from a CTE career path-way with an industry-standard certification will prove to be valuable when seeking em-ployment. Students also participate in Ca-reer and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). Service and professional student organizations allow students to sharpen their academic and real-world skills, in-cluding teamwork and leadership skills.

It is up to each student to explore and select his or her CTE area of specialization, whether agriculture or cosmetology, law enforcement, forensics, video game pro-gramming or other. CTE has more than 70 courses to select from that count for gradu-

ation credits and give students the op-portunity to try out different career fields. The possibility of becoming an electrician, network administrator, auto technician or welder is a reality to the students of VISD.

Career and Technical Education be-lieves it is important to have students learn from doing and like what they learn before they leave high school. Realization of career pathways that interest students is a financial savings for parents and stu-dents. We welcome all students to be a part of CTE.


said, noting he later passed up a promotion that would have taken him to Phoenix, Ariz. “We’re out of the rat race of the big city, but close enough to where we have the luxury of both. It’s the best of two worlds.”

Rachid’s work through the years in-cluded positions with companies such as 7-Eleven, Circle K, C.L. Thomas, Inc. and Citizens Medical Center. Those experi-

ences have all made a difference in his cur-rent work: as president of Rachid Business Consulting.

The father of two said he incorporates the first-hand knowledge he picked up through those roles into advice for the in-dependent business owners, medical prac-tices and other professionals who seek his help.

“It feels good to look at their needs and challenges, offer my point of view and really work with them,” he said. “It’s rewarding to

see these businesses get on the right path and become successful and profitable.”

Away from his day job and community work, a number of hobbies keep Rachid busy.

An outdoorsman, he said he enjoys fishing, hunting, riding his bike and both playing and refereeing soccer. He also flexes his culinary muscles, not only cook-ing at home, but donating his services to nonprofit organizations which auction off meals – everything from appetizers to des-

sert – which Rachid then prepares. He encouraged others to find their pas-

sion and work to better their community.“I admire everybody that volunteers

their time,” he said. “Normally you get more out of it than you put in, in terms of enrichment, knowledge and experiences. And those experiences can help you in your professional life as well. There is so much you get when you give back.”

RACHID, from pg 1

CTE, from pg 1


dents to the university, raising awareness about what the university offers, and sav-ing money for the students.”

The Guarantee is a key reason why Mariela Chavar is attending UHV. The freshman from Houston first learned about the financial aid opportunity through a staff member at her high school.

“My family and I decided to make the trip to Victoria to find out more about it,” she said. “As a first-generation college stu-dent, I saw this as a great opportunity. We didn’t have enough money for college, so the Guarantee helped a lot.”

Chavar was careful to ask a lot of questions to make sure she knew how the Guarantee worked. She said it was easy to

understand. “I was kind of worried about paying for

college,” she said. “My parents and I didn’t want to take out loans. When I learned that I wouldn’t need a loan to pay for tuition, the UHV Guarantee started sounding really good.”

Chavar is majoring in psychology and plans to minor in Spanish. She has a work-study job in the Office of Admissions, where she gives prospective students feedback on their applications.

“I would recommend the UHV Guar-antee to any student who has financial needs,” she said. “It has helped me.”

The same is true for UHV freshman Jennifer Sanchez, a goalkeeper for the Jag-uars soccer team. When sorting through soccer recruitment pitches, the UHV Guar-antee played a role in her decision-making process.

“As soon as I learned that this pro-gram at UHV would offer tuition scholar-ships, I knew this was where I wanted to go to school,” she said. “It’s good that the university has this option for students who are trying to afford college.”

Sanchez said the UHV Guarantee re-duced financial worries for her family.

“It was a weight off our shoulders,” she said. “I plan on continuing to take ad-vantage of the Guarantee.”

Sanchez is from San Antonio, where word about the UHV Guarantee has spread. When Eliza Fortner, a UHV finan-cial aid specialist, went to a recruitment event in San Antonio, unprompted high school students came up to the UHV table to ask about it.

“The awareness of this program is growing,” Mallory said. “Students are find-ing out about it in Houston and San Anto-nio.”

To be eligible for the UHV Guarantee in fall 2013, a student must be:

• A Texas resident from outside the Victoria area pursuing an un-dergraduate degree.

• Eligible to receive feder-al, state and/or university aid as verified by a completed FAFSA.

• A new UHV freshman or sophomore.

• Taking face-to-face class-es on the Victoria campus at UHV and en-rolled in at least 12 credit hours.

To remain eligible for the UHV Guar-antee, students must maintain a minimum

2.0 grade-point average and complete at least 24 credits a year. The UHV Guarantee covers tuition and fees only in the fall and spring semesters, but other incentives may be available for the summer.

To receive the UHV Guarantee, stu-dents need to apply to UHV and complete a FASFA. Links to these forms and more information can be found at www.uhv.edu/underclassmen/Guarantee.aspx.

For more information about the UHV Guarantee, renewal requirements and all other financial aid opportunities, call the Office of Financial Aid at 361-570-4125 or toll free at 877-970-4848, ext. 4125.

GUARANTEE, from pg 19

CHAVARCAROLYN MALLORY

SANCHEZ

Free prescription card distributed by United Way could help even more people if they knew how easy it is to get and use one.

Victoria, Texas (March 26, 2013) – The Vic-toria County United Way and the FamilyWize Community Service Partnership have teamed up to make prescriptions more affordable for those without insurance or even those who have insur-ance that doesn’t cover their medicine. Fami-lyWize cards have provided needed relief with great success, saving 958 people in our commu-nity more than $72,830 on the cost of their medi-cine. However, there are still many more people whose health is endangered because their prescriptions are too expensive and they are not getting the medicines they need.

Surveys in the last two years by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that supports independent re-search on health care issues, notes particular difficulties for people who lost insurance when they became unin-sured:

57% who had health benefits through their jobs and then lost their jobs became uninsured

52% of uninsured adults with a chronic condition skipped doses or did not fill a prescription for their condi-tion because of the cost

Even people with insurance through their employ-er may find that cost keeps them from taking medicine as prescribed, particularly those with High Deductible

Plans. According to an Employee Benefits Research In-stitute study;

31% of people who had a deductible of at least $1,000 skipped a dose or didn’t fill a prescription because of cost.

“In 2013, we’d like to see every person in our commu-nity who is unemployed, uninsured, has to buy medicine not covered by their health plan or government program, or is unable to get the medicine they need for any reason, get a FamilyWize card from our United Way, “ said Clif-ford Grimes, Executive Director of the Victoria County United Way. “We also encourage them to see what other services we can refer them to – like food banks and pan-tries, utility and housing assistance, and more. We know these are still hard times for many people and we’re here to help.”

Victoria County United Way is one of 1,000 local Unit-

ed Ways that have joined the FamilyWize Com-munity Service Partnership over the last 7 years. FamilyWize was recently named a Preferred Partner by United Way Worldwide to provide op-portunities for increased awareness and collabo-rations nationwide.

“Our partnership with United Way World-wide and almost 1,000 local United Ways nation-wide gives us a national platform to help people in every community across the country,” said Dan Barnes, FamilyWize CEO and Co-founder, “

Barnes added that FamilyWize has the ca-pacity to help many more people and will be working hard to do so but the impact nationwide already is impressive:

• 5.2 million people helped• 5,000 additional people helped each day• $470 million saved on the cost of medications“Locally or nationwide, what’s most important is that

most of the time we save people about $20 per prescrip-tion when they use this card,” added Grimes. “That’s money in their pocket when they need it most to pay bills and other necessities.”

Average savings are almost 40% and can be as high as 75%. FamilyWize cards can be used at most pharma-cies including all chain pharmacies and groceries na-tionwide. Contact Victoria County United Way for infor-mation on how to get a card, visit www.familywize.org to download a card or text “family” to 700700 to get a text version of the card.

$72,830 Saved on Prescription Medicine through Dec. 31, 2012 with Victoria County United Way and FamilyWize


May Programs All programs are at the Victoria Public Library, 302 N. Main, Victoria, TX 77901 unless another location is listed. For more information visitwww.victoriapubliclibrary.org or call 361-485-3302. Here is the link to our April Newsletter for a quick recap of what we are doing this month.http://www.victoriapubliclibrary.org/newsletters/2013_04LibraryView.pdf

CHILDREN

• Baby Time – every Monday @ 2:00 pm & Tuesday @ 10:00 amBaby Time is for the enjoyment of babies up to the age of 2. Lap play, songs, flannel boards and interactive reading to engage caregivers and babies and inspire development. • Toddler Story Time – every Wednesday @ 9:30 am and 10:30 am & Thursday @ 9:30 am Stories, repetitive songs, simple crafts, and finger plays to encourage early language development for 2 to 3 year olds. Story Time – every Wednesday @ 2:00 pm and Thursday @ 10:30 am• Stories, music, games, and simple crafts for ages 4 to 5. PLEASE NOTE THAT IN PREPERATION OF OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM THERE WILL BE NO READING TIMES MAY 27TH THROUGH MAY 31st. • Family Night @ Chic-Fil-A May 7th, 6:00-8:00Come join the library at Chic-fil-a for a fun-filled activity. Whispering Creek Location • Lego Play – May 14th, 4:00 – 5:30 pmBring your wild imagination, build with Legos, meet other Lego enthusiasts and win a prize for fabulous Lego designs. This program is come and go so feel free to arrive whenever you can and leave early if you need to! Families of all ages are welcome. • Movies @ Your Library May 18th, 10-12:00p.m.Wall-E -- What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? The year is 2700 and WALL-E is a robot still spending every day doing what he was made for. Soon he is visited by a sleek robot named EVE whom he chases across the galaxy with a pet cockroach and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

ALL AGES

• Family Gaming – May 20TH, 4:30 – 6:30 pmHang out with other kids, teens, and families for an afternoon of gaming. Enjoy classic games such as chess, checkers, and uno. Or try your hand at one of our video games on the big screen; these include Rock Band 2, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bro’s. Brawl, Call of Duty and others. ADULTS

• Brown Bag Book Group—May 1st, 4:30 - 6:30 pmThe Brown Bag Book Group meets every first Wednesday of the month in the Bronte Room. Light refreshments and relaxed atmosphere provided. This month we will be discussing Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. COMPUTER CLASSES • Free Computer Classes - Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 am. Registration Required.Classes range from beginner to advanced courses and are now taught at the Workforce Solution Golden Crescent Computer Lab and the Victoria Public Library. Visit the events calendar on the VPL website www.victoriapubliclibrary.org for more information.

May 2 – Intro to Keyboarding Basics – Workforce Solution Golden Crescent ComputerMay 7 – Intro to Computer Basics – Workforce Solution Golden Crescent ComputerMay 9 – Intro to Office 2007 -- Workforce Solution Golden Crescent Computer LabMay 14 – Intro to Microsoft Word 2007 – Workforce Solution Golden Crescent Computer LabMay 16 – Internet and Email for Your Job Search– Workforce Solution Golden Crescent ComputerMay 21– Introduction to Excel 2010 -- VPL Computer Lab May 23– Introduction to PowerPoint 2010 -- VPL Computer LabMay 28– Introduction to Publisher 2010 -- VPL Computer LabMay 30– Introduction to Excel 2010 -- VPL Computer Lab

• Self-Guided Computer Training – Every Wednesday at VPL from 9:00 – 11:00 am Enhance your skills with tutorials from Learning Express Library and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! The Computer Lab will be reserved every Wednesday for this self-guided training

Special Events Calendar

youth for one-on-one mentoring sessions in math and reading. After that initial con-sultation, he was hooked.

“Walking into Patti Welder made me feel like I was back on my old school cam-pus,” Olvera said of the middle school, where he has now mentored for two years.

Not only does he aid with students’ school work, but he’s there to listen to their concerns – both school-related and person-al – and offer his advice. He stresses that those people who don’t push themselves oftentimes find themselves living lives of poverty or jail time, and sometimes even wind up dead.

The messages are difficult but, some-times, they’re exactly what students need to hear.

Still, Olvera’s influence continued on. When approached by a SureBET

teacher about getting more UHV students involved, he took the idea first to VBEC personnel and then to his fellow Jaguars. While the students had the desire to help, however, one issue stood in their way.

Many didn’t have transportation need-ed to get to and from their mentor cam-

puses.Olvera set to work, forming meetings

and working out plans to get students from UHV to their designated schools. Today, transportation is available between the university and three mentor campuses: Hopkins Elementary School, Patti Welder Middle School and Stroman Middle School.

The go-getter’s drive to be a leader shines through in everything he touches. Not only does he mentor, but he also works with students at Patti Welder who have learning disabilities.

He and wants young people to know that, no matter what challenges arise, a person should never give up hope.

With all of his studies and drive to suc-ceed, Olvera plans to graduate early with a degree in health care administration. He is also considering a minor in education.

He will be the first in his family to at-tend and graduate from college.

Eli is a young man who will inspire many middle school students, as well as his peers. With his desire

to give back to others and to serve as a role model to his brothers, he makes the Crossroads community proud.

OLVERA, from pg 18



High-quality prekindergarten inspires children to become lifelong learners and prepares them for kindergarten and be-yond by teaching important skills needed for academic and social success.

Full-day prekindergarten is provided at no cost to eligible children throughout the district.

Research clearly indicates that chil-dren who attend prekindergarten are more prepared for kindergarten, have improved reading and writing skills, are more suc-cessful in grades K-12, have better social skills, behavior, and conduct and go on to greater success in life.

“It’s incredible to see how much our prekindergarten students learn and grow over the course of a school year as a result of their daily participation in school,” said Michelle Yates, Early Childhood Coordina-tor at Victoria I.S.D. “Quality early educa-tion is critical to a child’s social, emotional and academic development and is the foun-dation for an enduring love of learning.”

ABOUT ELIGIBILITYA child is eligible for enrollment in

prekindergarten if he or she is at least four years of age by September 1, has received the required immunizations and meets one of the following requirements: 1) qualifies to participate in the National Free and Re-duced Price Lunch Program (proof of gross household income is required); 2) is un-able to speak or comprehend the English language; 3) is homeless; 4) is the child of

an active duty member of the armed forc-es of the United States; 5) is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was injured or killed while serv-ing on active duty; or 6) is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Pre-registration will be held at your neighborhood elementary campus during school hours. Prekindergarten application forms will be available during this time as well. If your child is deemed eligible for prekindergarten, you will have the op-portunity to pre-register for the upcoming school year. Space availability at each cam-pus is on a first-come, first-serve basis…so do not wait!

To pre-register based on limited in-come, you will need to bring current proof of household income (must list the name of the household mem-ber, gross amount and date the income was received). For more de-tails about this require-ment, please contact the school.

Currently, prekin-dergarten programs exist at 14 of the 17 el-ementary schools in the Victoria I.S.D. If your neighborhood school

does not have prekindergarten but your child qualifies for the program, transporta-tion will be provided.

Daily attendance in school, even in prekindergarten, is required by law once your child is enrolled in the program. Ex-pecting your four-year old child to attend school every day and on-time sets a very positive precedent for years to come!

To learn more about the benefits of prekindergarten, visit www.Prekinder-gartenPrepares.com. For VISD informa-tion call 361-788-9294 or visit www.visd.net. The first 400 prekindergarten students who pre-register will receive a “Welcome to School” kit!

Victoria I.S.D. Gives Kids a Great Start with High-Quality Prekindergarten


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Volume 5 - Number 19 ......4 — VOICES UNITED PUBLICATION OF VICTORIA • Spring 2013 • Nazareth Academy 206 W. Convent Street …