Texas Southmost College Alumna, Gloria Chavez, was transferred authority yesterday as Chief Patrol Agent of the RGV Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol. We were thrilled and honored to host her change of command ceremony at our TSC Performing Arts Center .
It was a special afternoon for Brownsville-area native and Texas Southmost College alumna Gloria Chavez. Customs and Border Protection held a ‘change of command ceremony’ as she was sworn-in
TSC alumna and Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol, RGV Sector, Gloria Chavez, was honored Friday at a Change of Command Ceremony which was held at her alma mater, Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center.
Chief Chavez was surrounded by friends, family, colleagues and Texas Southmost College leadership including TSC Board of Trustee Chairwoman Adela Garza, Vice Chair J.J. De Leon, Secretary Alejandra Aldrete, Trustee Delia Saenz and TSC President Dr. Jesús Roberto Rodríguez.
High-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol filled the stage party for Chavez’s big moment.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Benjamine Huffman and U.S. Border Patrol Chief, Raul Ortiz both sat near her.
Chavez, who attended Porter High School and Texas Southmost College before traveling around the county to pursue her career has spent 27 years in the Border Patrol, including stops in San Diego California, Spokane Washington and Washington D.C.
TSC Board of Trustees Chair Adela Garza spoke about how proud she was to go from a TSC graduate to Board Chair to be able to take part in Texas Southmost College’s finest moments.
Chavez spoke talked on the sacrifices she made over the years and the support her family provided and how much work it took to earn the highest position in her home sector, the Rio Grande Valley.
Her speech touch on her life journey and became emotional when looking back on the impact of her late mother who passed in October.
“I dedicate today’s ceremony in honor of my beautiful mother,” Chavez said. “Little did she know the woman that I am today is all due to who she was in my life.”
Despite spending much of her life around the nation and away from the Valley, she is happily back where it all began…near family.
“My family, mi gente as I like to say of South Texas is something I will always be extremely proud of,” Chavez said. “I represent you everywhere I go and everywhere I have been. As a young girl growing up in Brownsville, I knew I wanted more for myself, knowing how hard my mother and father worked. As the oldest of four children, I applied myself and got some good grades to set a good example for my siblings.”
The ceremony included a patriotic display of colors and an oath to fulfill her duties.
Following the official ceremony was a reception with performances by students from Porter, her former high school thanks to the TSC 21st Century program.
Congratulations Chief Chavez!
View the full album here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjArHZM
Special thanks to our ACE 21st Century program in partnership with BISD and ROCA at Brownsville Performing Arts Academy/George Ramírez PAA, both of whom lit up the afternoon with dance and musical entertainment.
#TSCAlumni #ScorpionStrong #TSCfamily #TSCcampus
