A Milestone Moment: TSC Honors the Graduating Class of Fall 2025

Texas Southmost College celebrated a milestone on Saturday, December 13, 2025, as hundreds of graduates and their families  filled the Jacob Brown Auditorium for the college’s Fall Commencement ceremonies.

The college hosted two separate ceremonies, a reflection of the continued growth of its academic and dual enrollment programs and the remarkable number of students reaching this significant milestone. A total of 347 graduates participated in the Commencement ceremonies, representing academic programs across the college and Dual Credit students from partner high schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

As the final graduating class before TSC enters its centennial year in 2026, the event carried a sense of history, gratitude, and anticipation for the century ahead.

The 9:30 a.m. ceremony recognized 224 graduates, including 114 students from the Division of Arts and Sciences and 110 Dual Enrollment graduates representing more than a dozen partner schools. Students from Hanna Early College High School, Rivera Early College High School, Veterans Memorial Early College High School, Pace Early College High School, Lopez Early College High School, Porter Early College High School, Port Isabel, San Benito, Harlingen South, Los Fresnos, Santa Maria, La Villa, Jubilee, and Raymondville proudly crossed the stage.

TSC President Dr. Jesús Roberto Rodriguez served as the master of ceremonies for both events, offering opening remarks that highlighted student perseverance, the support of faculty and families, and the significance of reaching this moment at the threshold of the college’s 100th year.

Board Chair Adela G. Garza, the longest-serving member of the Board of Trustees and a proud TSC alumna, shared a message rooted in personal experience and encouragement. Garza reflected on her own journey as a student who enrolled in college later in life, a decision that became the starting point of the path that eventually led her to serve as Board Chair. She spoke about the transformative impact TSC had on her life and reminded graduates that their time at the college may be the beginning of opportunities they cannot yet imagine.

The 1:30 p.m. ceremony honored 123 graduates, including 22 summer completers, 62 graduates from the Business, Education, and Technology Division, and 39 graduates from the Division of Health Professions. Many of these students are preparing to enter high-demand careers across the region, reflecting TSC’s long-standing role in strengthening the local workforce.

Joining the ceremonies to deliver a keynote address was delivered by Dr. Gilberto Flores, Jr., an Internist who divides his time between practicing medicine in the Rio Grande Valley and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Flores offered an inspiring message centered on resilience, sharing candid reflections on his own early academic struggles and the shift in mindset that set him on the path toward a career in medicine:

“When you doubt yourself, keep going. When the world underestimates you, keep going. And when the dream feels too big, remind yourself that big is exactly what dreams are supposed to feel like. I stand here today, not as someone who figured it all out from the beginning, but as someone who learned that greatness is built through small, consistent acts of courage.”

As the college prepares for its centennial celebration in 2026, this class stands as a bridge between TSC’s proud past and its promising future. This latest group of graduates’ achievements embody the mission that has guided TSC since its earliest days: expanding access to education, uplifting the community, and equipping students with the skills to thrive.