Joie Perez grew up listening to her grandmother talk about her decades of nursing experiences and adventures and always thought of nursing as a noble career she also wanted to pursue.

The 27-year-old’s dream finally came true last month when she graduated from the Texas Southmost College Licensed Vocational Nursing program.

Joie Perez graduated in December 2020 from Texas Southmost College’s Licensed Vocational Nursing program.

Keeping with its holiday tradition, Texas Southmost College recently delivered toys to the children of Rosa E. Del Castillo Elementary School in Brownsville to help make Christmas a little brighter.

Every year, TSC selects a different elementary school that will benefit from the Angel Tree Toy Drive hosted by TSC Student Life and garners hundreds of donations from TSC students, faculty and staff over the course of several weeks.

Texas Southmost College’s Angel Tree Toy Distribution is a standing tradition and this year it benefitted the children of Rosa E. Del Castillo Elementary School in Brownsville. More than 260 gifts were collected and distributed by TSC Student Life, TSC Board of Trustees Chair Ruben Herrera and TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez.

Molly Showalter was in love with the boy next door and it was his love for his country and willingness to serve that also inspired her to enlist.

The U.S. Air Force veteran and Texas Southmost College Licensed Vocational Nursing instructor enlisted in 1975 and served four years alongside her husband of 45 years.

Texas Southmost College Licensed Vocational Nursing instructor Molly Showalter is a U.S. Air Force veteran. In this photo she had just earned her first U.S. Air Force commendation medal.

Javier Southerland grew up on an orange farm in Florida trying his hand at the many areas that encompass trade jobs, so when he moved to Brownsville, Texas Southmost College was his top choice for workforce training.

The 33-year-old student earned his certificate of completion earlier this month from TSC’s Workforce Training Plumbing program. He was introduced to the program when he started working on campus as a security guard.

Texas Southmost College’s Plumbing program was introduced in September and has already helped numerous students become registered apprentices with the state of Texas and earn Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 certificates.

Maria Harris had a successful career in the medical field in her home country of Mexico, but when violence ensued in the area, she moved her family to the Rio Grande Valley to ensure their safety and success.

The 54-year-old, who recently became a Licensed Vocational Nursing graduate earlier this month during Texas Southmost College’s virtual commencement, left behind a career as a medical assistant and has worked as a substitute teacher for the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District for more than a decade.

Maria Harris graduated in December 2020 with a certificate from TSC’s Licensed Vocational Nursing program and plans on returning to begin her journey toward an associate degree in registered nursing.