The virtual 2020 Javelina Alumni Award Ceremony commemorated seven distinguished alumni Friday, Oct. 23. Carmen Lomas Garza, the late David Allex, Donna Shaver, Jose Luis Cortez, Angelica “Angie” Barrera and Roberto Montoya were honored at the Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony. “Robert Ray” Molina Jr. was honored with the Rising Star Award.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations Brad Walker presented and introduced the alumni.
“If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that Javelinas are resilient. Like the Javelinas we are honoring today, and the Javelinas who have been previously selected,” Walker said.
The ceremony, conducted virtually, highlighted each alumnus, their lives and their achievements and accomplishments.
Garza is a famed Mexican-American artist, the late Allex was former President and CEO of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, Shaver is a Wildlife Biologist in the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery, Cortez formerly with the U.S Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Barrera is Associate Vice Provost of Student Success at UTSA, Montoya is CEO of VRC Corporation, and Molina is a Texas country musician.
“I am a Javelina, true and blue and everything else,” Barrera said.
“It’s a sense of pride, but that sense of pride going to that university that I have with the Department of Kinesiology with athletics, it’s incomparable. […] Once a Javelina always a Javelina and that’s a pride people can’t take away.”
In 1968, Texas A&M University-Kingsville began recognizing outstanding alumni.
The Javelina Alumni Association created the Distinguished Alumni Award that year.
It is a tradition to acknowledge and award alumni who have achieved professional and civic accomplishments.
“The recognition given today is just one of the ways our Alumni Association demonstrates support for the university, our traditions, and everyone who represents Javelina Nation,” President of Javelina Alumni Association Debbie Winslow said. “The Javelina Alumni Association helps alumni and friends stay connected to the university.”
The ceremony can be watched on YouTube.
