January 2025 EDITION
It's Our Centennial Year!
McNair Scholars Melanie Muñoz and Brian Briones (pictured above) will create social media content to help promote the Conner Museum’s Centennial exhibition, set to open Summer 2025.
Texas A&M-Kingsville students have interned virtually with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) for three years. Cynthia Vidaurri '91, Folklorist at NMAI, serves as the internship coordinator.
Javelina Trombones Win on World Stage
On January 20, the International Trombone Association announced the TAMUK Trombone Select Choir as winners of the ITA Remington Trombone Competition. An institution from Germany placed second, Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover (Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media) and honorable mention was given to a private school in Boston, the New England Conservatory of Music.
As winners, each student will receive a tuition waiver to attend and perform at the 2025 International Trombone Festival this July, hosted at the University of Western Ontario.
Two Javelina Alumni lead the studio, Dr. Oscar Diaz, Jr. ’99 and Dr. Juan Saldivar ’17. Under Dr. Diaz’s leadership, the studio has doubled in size over the last decade. This recent ensemble competition win proves Dr. Diaz is not only committed to the growth of the studio, but dogged in his pursuit of excellence.
"A very special congratulations to these incredible students for winning the Emory Remington Trombone Choir Competition. The dedication and countless hours they devote to their craft as musicians and players are truly inspiring," says Diaz.
"I am beyond blessed to be their professor, and their unmatched hard work continues to amaze me."
Be sure to follow the studio’s Facebook page or @tamukbones on Instagram and look out for opportunities to support them as they travel this summer to represent Javelina Nation in Canada!
Alumnus Achieves Goal to Work for H-E-B
Trent Payne ’23 recently started a position with H-E-B as a Business Development Assistant. The marketing major and Woodsboro native worked part-time at the popular grocery chain during his time in Kingsville and his dream to work with the company was known throughout the campus community. Congrats, Trent!
Athletics
Maya Espinoza Sets Mile Record
On Jan. 10, at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Houston, Maya Espinosa took second place in the women's mile. The Javelinas were the only D2 team competing in the meet. Espinosa ran a 5:01.37, the 10th-best time in the nation, and now holds TAMUK's all-time program record in the mile. For all of the latest Javelina Track & Field news visit the Javelina Athletics Website or follow them on Instagram.
Get to Know Coach Parr
Scott Parr was officially welcomed to Javelina Nation with a press conference on Jan. 8. Watch the video above to see remarks from President Robert Vela, Athletics Director Michael Salinas and Javelina Football Head Coach Scott Parr.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Nominations Open Through March 15
We are accepting nominations for Distinguished Alumni honorees until March 15, 2025. For more information or to submit a nomination, tap the button below.
First Destination Survey Drawing Winner
Jose Buentello '24 had already joined the workforce when he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy last month.
He says his final year at TAMUK was the "most I have hustled in my entire life." After classes in the spring, the agronomy major headed to Louisiana for a summer internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Buentello credits this internship with allowing him to make connections at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency within the USDA. In August, he accepted a position with NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in Roswell, New Mexico.
When asked what advice he would give other Javelinas, Buentello said, "Pursue every opportunity that is given to you."
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