Laredo Community College

Infobox University
name = Laredo Community College


established = September 28, 1947
type = Community College
president = Juan L. Maldonado
campus = Main:
300 acres (1.2 km²)
South
city = Laredo
state = Texas
country = United States
students = 15,200 (Fall 2007)
faculty = 368 Full-time (Fall 2007)
mascot = Palominos
website = [http://www.laredo.edu/ Laredo Community College]

Laredo Community College, or LCC, was established as Laredo Junior College on September 28, 1947, by the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, the seat of Webb County in south Texas. It adopted its present name in 1993.

Throughout a period of time the Main Campus (located at historic Fort McIntosh) also housed both the former Laredo State University and Texas A&I University at Laredo, which later relocated as Texas A&M International University to its new campus off the Bob Bullock Loop in northeast Laredo. The district since expanded in 2004 to include two campuses -- the Main Campus and the South Campus.

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of LCC includes territory within the following areas: [Texas Education Code, Section 130.185, "Laredo Community College District Service Area".]
* the municipality of Laredo, and
* all of Webb, Jim Hogg, and Zapata Counties.

The Main Campus

The main campus, also called the Fort McIntosh Campus due to its location on historic Fort McIntosh, is located at the west end of Washington Street in downtown Laredo. The campus has many of the original army buildings from the old fort along with modern buildings from the 1940s to the 1970s, which now house studios, classrooms, and home to the President of the College. The campus is situated on a small hill on the bend above the Rio Grande. The campus has twenty-seven buildings.

Main landmarks are:

Memorial Hall (previously University Hall) houses main administrative offices, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Assessment Center, Bursar's Office, and Advising.

Kazen College Center (or "The Kazen" as students nicknamed) is located on the Main Mall. The building is named for the late U.S. Representative Abraham Kazen of Laredo. The student center provides a central place for student activities. The First Floor houses the Cafeteria, Student Activities Office, Dining Rooms, TV lounges, Meeting rooms, Viewing rooms and the College Bookstore. The Second Floor houses the Job Readiness Center, Game Room, Student Galleries, and Health Services office. The center of the building has a 2-Story high atrium equipped with seating and tables for students to study, dine, and hang out. The Atrium is also equipped with a stage, lights, and speakers that can be used for performances the college may have for students.

Harold Yeary Library, named for Laredo businessman, school board member, and civic leader Harold E. Yeary (1908-1969), houses books, periodicals, references, and computer labs and study rooms for student uses. There are about 138,050 articles in literature and about 538 current periodicals and 63 online subscriptions. The library also houses the Fort McIntosh Gallery which features a gallery of photos and paintings of the old fort. The building has seating for 580 students at a time for studying.

Maravillo Gymnasium - Named for the first Laredo Junior College student to die in the line of duty in World War II, Corporal Quintin Maravillo, the gym is located at the end of the main mall atop a small hill. This building was dedicated to the memory of LCC students who have died in war. The gymnasium and classroom building supports the LCC Kinesiology, Athletics, and Intramural Sports Programs.

Martinez Performing Fine Arts Center - Completed in 2003, this facility is the hub of instructional activity for the college's Music, Dance and Visual Arts programs. It contains sculpture and photography laboratories, state of the art music laboratories and a 500-seat auditorium for performance arts. It is named for the late philanthropists Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez, whose family foundation provided financial support for constructing and equipping the facility.

Dr. Joaquin G. Cigarroa, Jr., Science Labratory Building, a new facility, houses laboratories for the Science Department. It is named for a Laredo physician long active in the promotion of medical education.

Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center, this facility is a living laboratory for students of all ages to study math, science and other related disciplines. The center contains representations of the Rio Grande ecosystem and live specimens of plant and animal life. Local school children take part in the center's eco-curriculum through instructional tours scheduled on weekdays throughout the school year.

Arechiga Hall, primarily an historic building used for faculty offices, is a restoration of the officers' quarters at the previous Fort McIntosh. It is named for the late LCC President Domingo Arechiga.

Lerma-Pena Learning Center has a large computer-based learning laboratory on the ground floor and classrooms on the second level. It is located behind the LCC entrance sign.

Fort McIntosh Park - This state of the art recreation complez has an unheated ] Swimming Pool] , Baseball Field, Softball Field, Batting Cages, H.E. Butt Tennis Courts, and concession facilities for student athletics and recreational programs located on the north side of the historic campus.

Crispin "Doc" Sanchez Baseball Field - Within Fort McIntosh Park, the baseball field is named for the college's former athletic director and dean of student services, Crispin Sanchez (1925-2008).

The South Campus

The Laredo Community College South Campus, located at 5500 South Zapata Highway (U.S. Highway 83), was established to extend the college's mission to the growing residential area of south Laredo. More than 80 percent of voters approved a $50 million bond issue to construct the campus which was completed in the spring of 2004. The 60 acre campus contains seven buildings and will be expanded in the future to develop athletic and recreational fields and courts. The campus sits on a small valley near the bank of the Rio Grande. The campus was created to give opportunity to the citizens in the southern areas and suburbs of Laredo.

Academic and Advanced Technology Center - Computer and science laboratories, lecture halls, classrooms and faculty offices fill the Academic and Advanced Technology Center. The building's first floor contains offices for the Child Development Department and the LCC Community Education Department. The second floor contains offices for the LCC Computer Electronics Department, language laboratories for the study of English and foreign languages, and distance education classrooms.

Hall Student Center - Named for the late State Representative William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr., this two-story facility is designed to become the hub of student life, including: Meeting and Conference Rooms, Bursar's Office, Financial Aid Office, Counseling Center, Admissions Office, Bookstore, Cafeteria, TV Room, Assessment Center, Mailroom, Print Services, Student Computer Resource Room, Student Employment Services, Campus Nurse, and administrative offices.

Prada Child Development Center - The new LCC Child Development Laboratory is a model teaching area for LCC students who are taking early childhood development courses in preparation for education careers in the community's child care centers. It contains six classrooms for 2, 3 and 4 year-olds, a kitchen and two outdoor playgrounds. This facility is named for Camilo Prada, whose family developed the residential neighborhoods around the LCC South campus and provided student support through scholarships and other gifts.

Treviño Fitness Center - Named for the late long-term LCC Trustee J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr., this Classroom and Fitness Center contains convert|13600|sqft|m2 of space that will serve all students attending classes at LCC South with a gymnasium, fitness rooms, locker rooms and a therapy room with sauna. These facilities will also be used by the Regional Police Academy for its physical training component.

Judith Zaffirini Library - The Zaffirini Library named for State Senator Judith Zaffirini is located on the LCC South campus in Building B. It is equipped with a Circulation desk, Reference Desk, a Media Center, a copy room, and a computer lab where bibliographic instruction is offered. Interlibrary loan services are available online and through the Circulation Desk, and bibliographic instruction sessions can be scheduled through the Reference Desk. The library has the capacity to house 18,000 volumes. Online and Internet services are readily available throughout the building.

New LCC president

In the summer of 2007, Juan L. Maldonado (born 1949), a Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University in Denton, formerly the executive vice president of student development, succeeded Ramon H. Dovalina as the LCC president. Dovalina, a graduate of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin, had served in the top position since 1995. He was the fifth LCC president.

On September 28, 2007, the exact sixtieth anniversary of the founding of LCC, Dovalina and the fourth LCC president, Roger L. Worsley of Camden, Arkansas, were bestowed president-emeritus status. At the ceremony, Trustee Carlos Carranco, Jr., of Laredo, himself a former LJC student, told the "Laredo Morning Times" that the institution "from very humble beginnings has evolved to serve the needs of the community."

Death of Trustee J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr.

Jose C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr. (May 31, 1930 - March 27, 2007), was a prominent Laredo businessman, who served thirty-two years on the LCC board of trustees. He was particularly known for his promotion of youth activities but discouraged attention to his philanthropic endeavors, such as support for the Sacred Heart Children's Home orphanage and the Boys Club and Girls Club of Laredo. His hometown newspaper, the "Laredo Morning Times", named him "Laredoan of the Year" for 2007.

Trevino was appointed to the LCC board by his future colleagues effective January 15, 1975, to fill the Position 4 seat vacated by Carlos H. Mata. He was then elected to five six-year terms, beginning on April 3, 1976. His last election was in May 2006, when he faced a stronger-than-usual opponent in former trustee Sabas Zapata, III, for a term of which Trevino completed less than one year. His last term would have extended until 2012. He was the board vice-president in 1986, 1990, and from 1992-1994. On the board, he was particularly known for his attention to details and was a constant advocate to keep down taxes and tuition.

Trevino established his Southern Enterprises beverage company in 1957 and was heavily involved in business ventures in both the United States and Mexico. He had been a director of the Laredo National Bank since 1975.

Trevino was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, across the Rio Grande from Laredo to Jose C. Trevino, Sr., and the former Victoria Salinas (1902-1981). He was a brother of Bebe Zuniga, who made a strong race for mayor of Laredo in 1990 and brother-in-law of Carlos Zuniga, a former member of the Laredo City Council, and Olga Trevino Barnes. He graduated from Martin High School in 1947. That same year he married the former Rose Ella Tarver. The couple reared six children: Laredo attorney J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, III (born 1949), and wife Adrienne, Diana T. Garcia and husband Ricardo, Roberto Trevino and wife Prissy, Anna Laura Trevino, Guillermo Trevino and wife Tammy, and Carlos F. Trevino and wife Pauline. There were also fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Trevino died of cancer. Services were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Laredo. He was interred in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo. Monsignor Thomas A. Davis described his friend Trevino as a man of "deep faith", prayer, and courage. We always turned to Pepe for help. Most people will never know the good work he was doing because he did not seek notice or recognition."

The Trevino Fitness Center on the South Campus of Laredo Community Center is named in Trevino's honor. Trevino was succeeded on the board by Edward C. Sherwood.

Trevino references:

Kirsten Crow, "Farewell to Pepe: Family and friends pay final respects", "Laredo Morning Times", April 1, 2007

Trevino obituary, Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, Laredo, Texas, March 30, 2007

"Death of J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr.", Laredo Community College Public Information Office, March 27, 2007

Notable LCC alumni

*Alberto Cardenas, Jr. -- General counsel to U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
*Carlos Carranco, Jr. -- Laredo businessman and LCC trustee
*Henry Cuellar -- U.S. representative from District 28
*Ramon Dovalina -- Former LCC president
*Rick Flores -- Webb County sheriff
*Jerry Garza -- Webb County Commissioner
*Hector J. Liendo -- Webb County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
*Mercurio Martinez, Jr. -- Former Webb County administrative judge and current LCC trustee
*Rodolfo "Rudy" Rodriguez, Jr. -- Webb County Precinct 1 constable
*Judith Zaffirini -- Texas state senator since 1987

References

External links

* [http://www.laredo.edu/studhandbook/photo.htm Laredo Community College Student Handbook]
* http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18867665&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=569392&rfi=6