LAREDO COLLEGE ON THE MOVE SEPTEMBER 2019 Laredo College convened safety awareness and emergency preparedness forum with local educational and law enforcement entities LC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis was joined by Laredo Police Department Chief Claudio Treviño, Laredo Fire Department Chief Steve Landin, representatives from the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, Texas A&M International University President Dr. Pablo Arenaz, Laredo Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Sylvia Rios and representatives from United Independent School District. The participants strived to reinforce the strong connection there is between the law enforcement entities and the educational community. All parties had a constructive exchange of ideas and learned from each other about the safety and preparedness measures in place at each academic institution. The forum allowed all parties to interact and Laredo College hosted the first safety awareness and emergency engage in meaningful conversations that will lead to the implementation preparedness forum on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Ft. McIntosh Campus. and reinforcement of collaborative safety measures that will benefit the This forum was a proactive measure to open the lines of communication community. between the different agencies in dealing with safety and emergency situation preparedness in educational settings. Laredo College celebrates Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week Laredo College hosted a celebration with a slew of activities emphasizing our students’ accomplishments in honor of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. The college is the founding member of the Texas Hispanic Serving Institutions Consortium, an organization that links more than 50 institutions, public and private, in serving the academic needs of Hispanic students. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has officially designated this week to recognize the great contributions these colleges and universities provide for Hispanic students across the United States. For more than 70 years, Laredo College has historically championed the academic success for thousands of Laredo and area residents, most of whom are Hispanic. Laredo College President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis and Vice President for Resource Development Dr. Nora Garza had the opportunity to bring staff, faculty and students together to celebrate this occasion. The event served as an opportunity to thank and recognize various governmental and private part of the Title III STEM Articulation grant from the U.S. Department entities – such as the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education. of Agriculture, National Science Foundation and the AEP Foundation – The Leadership Excellence and Academic Preparation in STEM, for their support for the college and our students. This day also marked LEAPS, grant is an activity to increase the number of Hispanics who the unveiling of the Cybersecurity Mobile Go Unit. This vehicle will be enter STEM fields. A specific component of the grant is to provide a portable cybersecurity teaching unit and it will travel to and from area undergraduate research opportunities for hundreds of students schools and other centers to provide information on services and classes beginning freshman year. Dr. Cesar Bezares, engineering professor offered at the college. from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, met with students interested in Additionally, sixteen students from Cigarroa High School and Martin undergraduate research opportunities. Congressman Henry Cuellar’s High School were presented with the AEP Credits Count Scholarship for Outreach Coordinator Francis Atwell also spoke to the students to 2019-2020. These students have chosen to begin their college careers in encourage them to continue their bright future and go on to accomplish STEM at LC and are members of the incoming 2019 freshman class as great things after attending LC, just like he did. Laredo College launches district-wide safety initiative Laredo College has partnered up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to participate in a national awareness campaign to reinforce the safety of all our students, employees and visitors. This is an important step in our overall safety and preparedness plans to engage students and the community at large. “If You See Something, Say Something” is a national campaign that raises public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, as well as the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement. The college district simultaneously launched the campaign for students and community members on Thursday, Sept. 25 at both campuses. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated this day as national “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day. LC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis was joined by students, faculty measures and the continuous training our entire police force undergoes and administrators to inform and encourage students and faculty to each year to handle possible emergency situations. participate in this initiative. We can help keep our communities safe by Our goal is to elevate the awareness and educate the community about paying attention to our surroundings and reporting suspicious activity the safety measures and precautions the college district has in place. to local law enforcement or a person of authority. Campus police officers We will continue advocating for students and staff to report suspicious also had informational booths for students and staff who had questions activities or situations. about safety or who wanted to learn more about the college’s preparedness Published & Edited by the Office of Community & Media Relations Obed Guerrero Director Sandy Lugo Public Relations Specialist II Joana Santillana Public Relations Specialist I Obed Peña Graphic Designer.