What do a volleyball player, nursing student, college instructor, student newspaper writer, office secretary and a college president have in common?
Plenty, if they happen to be part of the family at Laredo Community College.
That’s because students, faculty and staff at this higher education institution, located along the U.S./Mexico border, joined forces this fall to show care and compassion in many unique ways for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“An outpouring of kindness from Laredo Community College began almost immediately after Katrina wreaked havoc on the gulf coast region,” Dr. Ramon H. Dovalina, president of the two-campus college district, said. “The response LCC received from its students, faculty, staff and community was overwhelming. It makes me proud to be part of LCC.”
An organization of secretaries, clerks and other support staff launched the college’s spirit of giving by organizing a collection drive in the student centers of both campuses to generate funds for the victims.
A portion of the donations were given to the American Red Cross, while the other portion was donated to the American Association of Community Colleges to help hurricane afflicted-colleges.
The wave of generosity continued with a rummage sale and a special sports benefit.
Faculty, staff and students were encouraged to donate items for a massive rummage sale for the benefit of hurricane victims. From household items to shoes, the sale attracted many from the community who took advantage of great bargains and contributed to a worthwhile cause.
Another idea to promote charity was born when the college’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Palomino women’s volleyball program partnered to host a celebrity volleyball game.
A pep rally, sponsored by LCC Student Activities, Phi Theta Kappa and the Palomino Express student newspaper, helped spark interest about the benefit to students.
City leaders, educators, bank executives, and even a professional hockey player were featured in the match, which required that they donate at least $100 through personal contributions or pledges to play against LCC’s volleyball team. Additional monies were collected at the door from volleyball fans who attended the fun-filled match.
Proceeds from the rummage sale and volleyball benefit also helped community colleges affected by Katrina.
As a nation struggled to recuperate from Katrina’s devastation, the gulf coast region was soon in peril again of more destruction with the growing wrath of Hurricane Rita.
This time, the storm’s target was right on the Texas gulf coast region, which forced many to evacuate their homes. Among the evacuees were residents from a long-term healthcare facility in Aransas Pass. After two failed attempts to find shelter at nearby towns, the group of frail and elderly persons found an open door at Laredo Community College.
In quick order, maintenance staff and health sciences students and faculty were able to transform the college gym into a comforting and welcoming shelter for the evacuees.
Hospital beds and other equipment from the nursing program laboratories were immediately shipped to the gym.
Students and faculty assisted the staff members from the healthcare center who accompanied the evacuees to the shelter.
For many students, the hands-on learning experience of helping at the shelter helped validate their decision to pursue a health sciences career.
Among the busloads of people who came from Aransas Pass were the children of some of the staff and residents’ family members. Students and faculty from the LCC Child Development program offered fun and creative activities for the youngsters to enjoy.
Kinesiology faculty even promoted physical fitness by motivating the evacuees to participate in special aerobics activity, and the college’s student choir also provided inspirational music during the evacuees’ two-day stay at LCC.
Before the evacuees returned safely to their home, they all left wearing college apparel donated by the LCC bookstore.
LCC capped off its mission of giving with a special tournament with exciting intercollegiate baseball action. Co-sponsored by LCC and the city of Laredo, the baseball benefit featured the Texas college baseball teams of Alvin, Laredo and UT-Brownsville, and the Mississippi state champion Meridian Eagles.
It was an exciting tournament for baseball enthusiasts to watch, and proceeds benefited Katrina victims from the gulf coast region through a relief fund established by the AACC.
The spirit of giving was contagious at both campuses, as clubs held various fund-raisers.
Police cadets at the LCC South campus also contributed to this worthy cause by collecting funds among the class for the hurricane victims. And the Child Care and Education Club and the Child Development program at LCC South raised funds as well.
Dr. Dovalina added, “Laredo Community College may be hundreds of miles away from the areas affected by these destructive storms, but it is admirable that the LCC community has the heart to extend a helping hand from afar to the hurricane victims.”
A total of more than $5,000 was collected from all benefits sponsored by LCC.
Among Laredo Community College’s caring hearts are, from left, front row, Ramon H. Dovalina, LCC president; Troy Van Brunt, athletic director; Priscilla Martinez, Phi Theta Kappa president; second row, Deyanira de la Pena, Phi Theta Kappa; Carolyn Otero, nursing; Ana Rodriguez, volleyball player; Dianna Miller, dean of Health Sciences; Sarah Kortum, Classified Staff Organization president; Norma Moore, Allied Health department chair; back row, Erika Hernandez, Palomino Express; Gumaro Martinez, Palomino Express editor; Jesus Zavala, Criminal Justice Club; and Brock Anderson, baseball player.
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