(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Monica Coto, Michael Dones, Elvira Reyna and JJ Vavra, employees at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, are among the recipients of the college’s 2025 Chancellor’s Cornerstone Awards.
The annual awards process starts with TSTC employees submitting nominations, which are reviewed and forwarded to Mike Reeser, TSTC’s chancellor and CEO, who makes the final decisions.
Since 2001, the TSTC Cornerstone Award has honored teammates who steadfastly demonstrate the college’s core values of excellence, accountability, service and integrity.
“A cornerstone is an essential component in the foundation of a building,” Reeser said. “Similarly, our cornerstone principles are what make us strong as an organization. Without these core values and the teammates who embody them every day, we simply would not be the same.”
Coto, a human resources generalist, has been with TSTC for 23 years. She manages a broad range of HR functions and helps to support operations for both employees and leadership.
“What motivates me is making a positive influence on my colleagues and the employees I assist,” she said.
Dones, a manager for instructional design, reached five years with TSTC in February. He said his team’s dedication to service has made a meaningful impact on students.
“Many of the tools that we are developing include an application that directly improves daily operations and enhances how our faculty and program leaders engage with students,” he said.
Reyna has worked at TSTC for nine years and is senior director of campus services operations. She said leading with a mindset of positivity helps how she connects with others at the college.
“The work our departments do supports not only our students, but the surrounding communities,” she said. “In food services, meeting the basic need of nourishment is essential. Our students, staff and faculty can’t fully focus without a proper meal. At TSTC, we ensure no one goes hungry.”
Vavra, director of alignment for the Digital Media Design program, said part of his job is making sure that the program’s curriculum matches industry demand.
“Integrity and open communication are important among our faculty,” he said. “It shows that we’re on the right path by preparing our students for great-paying jobs.”
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.