UTRGV celebrates employee milestones

330 staff members recognized for five to 50 years of service

By Karen Villarreal

More than 300 UTRGV employees were recognized recently for their years of service to the university, during the 2024 Service Awards ceremony.

Among them was Maria A. Garcia, celebrating a special milestone: 50 years with the university and its legacy institutions.

When Garcia started working in higher education, the institution that would become UTRGV was known as Pan American University, and the HR Assistant II was a secretary for Student Health Services.

“It was a little two-room office with two people,” she said. “To see it grow from a small institution to where it is now has been a great adventure.”

UTRGV President Guy Bailey underscored the growth of the university during a Spring ceremony at the Plains Capital Bank Theater on the Edinburg Campus, thanking all UTRGV staff for their contributions to its success over the years.

“Your work – admitting students, registering and advising them, making sure they get their financial aid and housing – that helped graduate 50,000 people,” he said. “You made a difference in the lives of students, their families, and in the Rio Grande Valley as a whole. We’re lucky to have you.”

• In December 2023, UTRGV achieved a landmark 50,000 graduates to date since opening its doors in 2015.

Bailey and division leaders also recognized individual non-faculty employees who had completed milestone years of dedicated service within the 2023 fiscal year – from five to 50 years.

“You are the thread that ties this institution together,” Bailey said. “You’re the institutional memory.”

Garcia, the employee with the longest history with the university, said it’s been a great place to work because of the support she has always felt from the administration and her fellow employees.

“This university has been part of my life all these years and it’s been a wonderful experience,” she said.

“It’s an honor to be recognized. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always been able to enjoy what I do,” she said. “Plans have to be made for the future, but right now I’m definitely going to continue on.”

Four employees were recognized for 35 years of service, and seven celebrated 30 years.

• 26 employees celebrated 25 years.
• Among the 58 recognized for 20 years of servicewere Dr. Michael Lehker, founding dean of the College of Health Professions, and Marianella Franklin, chief sustainability officer.
• 74 employees reached the ten-year mark, and 160 noted five years.

Following individual service awards, UTRGV leaders presented the winners of the Team Excellence Award: The National Defense Manufacturing Expo, organized by the I-DREAM4D Consortium.

Bravo Vaquero’s Spirit Award was presented to the Office of Research.