{"id":2786,"date":"2018-04-16T14:45:18","date_gmt":"2018-04-16T14:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/?p=2786"},"modified":"2018-04-16T14:45:18","modified_gmt":"2018-04-16T14:45:18","slug":"tstcs-largest-fundraiser-honors-bob-shepard-helps-countless-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/?p=2786","title":{"rendered":"TSTC\u2019s largest fundraiser honors Bob Shepard, helps countless students"},"content":{"rendered":"

(HARLINGEN) – Last night, The TSTC Foundation of Texas State Technical College hosted its 13th<\/sup> Annual Noche de Gala, the college\u2019s largest fundraiser of the year, with at least 200 in attendance.<\/p>\n

It was a night of celebration honoring one of Harlingen\u2019s leaders in higher education, Bob Shepard. He joins a long line of prestigious higher education supporters who have had this honor in past years.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I go around town telling people that Mr. Shepard is this year\u2019s honoree, I always get the same reaction, \u2018It\u2019s about time,\u2019\u201d TSTC Interim Provost Cledia Hernandez told the audience. \u201cBob Shepard has single-handedly done more for higher education in South Texas than any other Valley resident. TSTC students past and present owe much to the dedicated work of this very special man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shepard was born and raised in Harlingen and has a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Business Administration.<\/p>\n

Shepard currently serves as president of Shepard Walton King Insurance Group and has more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry, but he also has dedicated most of his life to ensuring that Valley students have the same opportunities as students in other parts of the United States.<\/p>\n

Shepard\u2019s message is this: \u201cAn educational institution like TSTC gives students and members of our community an opportunity for an education that is vitally important in our world today.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Harlingen native is active in the area of higher education both locally and statewide. He has served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), appointed by Gov. George Bush in 1996 and again by Gov. Rick Perry in 2004.\"Noche<\/a><\/p>\n

He served as chairman of the THECB from 2005 to 2008 and was instrumental in helping to establish higher education opportunities such as new degree programs for the RGV. In that capacity, he was able to work closely with policymakers and education stakeholders to develop and implement a higher education framework, including strategic planning for community programs and technical colleges.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob\u2019s role in Austin was one of a guardian angel,\u201d said Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell, who presented Shepard with a proclamation at the gala. \u201cHe has always known that the Valley needed to have more opportunity of higher education. Bob played an important role throughout the development of Texas State Technical College and has done a tremendous job in advancing higher education not only in the Rio Grande Valley, but throughout the state of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others who spoke on Shepard\u2019s work and commitment to higher education included Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund Paredes, former Harlingen Chamber of Commerce President David Allex, TSTC President Emeritus Gilbert Leal, former TSTC Regent and former Harlingen Mayor Connie de la Garza, and former Harlingen Mayor Randy Whittington.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, congratulations on being recognized by TSTC for your leadership in higher education,\u201d said Paredes. \u201cBob always wants to ensure that all children in Texas have the opportunity to receive a full education in whatever field they want to pursue. He\u2019s a man who practices what he preaches and is always committed to working for higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shepard\u2019s work has touched countless TSTC students, including three who were in attendance to tell the audience that if not for the work of people such as Shepard and his wife, Ann, and other donors at the event, a higher education would not have been a possibility.<\/p>\n

All proceeds from Noche de Gala go to fund the Lozano Long Promise Scholarship which was established in 1999, and the TSTC Texan Success Scholarship.<\/p>\n

Both scholarships have helped thousands of students like vocational nursing student Julie Villarreal and building construction students Abel Garza and Susana Sierra realize their dream of a college education.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy scholarships have motivated me toward finishing my education and paying back with good grades,\u201d said Garza, a first-generation college student. \u201cI am really thankful to have been granted these scholarships. Thank you to all of the donors, because every scholarship impacts students in a positive manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Villarreal, who already holds an associate degree in Health Information Technology, said the scholarship has been a blessing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to every donor who has lifted a weight of financial burden off of our shoulders,\u201d said Villarreal. \u201cIt\u2019s people like you who make a difference in many lives, and I\u2019m forever grateful. I hope one day I\u2019ll be able to sit in your chair and make a difference in lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes this gala a success is hearing from the students who we have helped,\u201d said TSTC\u2019s Senior Development Officer Amy Lynch. \u201cTo see the impact the donations from today\u2019s event have made and the opportunities they have provided is invaluable. And the reason so many succeed is because of the people who attend our event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noche de Gala has raised more than $1.5 million and has helped more than 400 students achieve their educational dreams.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Noche de Gala or for more information on becoming a donor, call The TSTC Foundation at 956-364-4500 or visit tstcfoundation.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(HARLINGEN) – Last night, The TSTC Foundation of Texas State Technical College hosted its 13th Annual Noche de Gala, the college\u2019s largest fundraiser of the year, with at least 200 in attendance. It was a night of celebration honoring one of Harlingen\u2019s leaders in higher education, Bob Shepard. He joins a long line of prestigious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-harlingen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2786"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2788,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786\/revisions\/2788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.tstc.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}