8 students receive Carlos Guerra Scholarships
By Victor Landa, NewsTaco
Eight students from the Art, Communications and Theatre Department of Texas A&M at Kingsville were chosen this month as recipients of the Carlos Guerra Scholarship.
This is a big deal for NewsTaco.
Back in the summer of 2010, when NewsTaco went from an idea to being an actual “thing,” Carlos Guerra was one of three dissatisfied Latinos who decided to fill a gap of Latino news and information by launching an internet news service. I was there as well, along with Gilberto Ocañas. We launched the service quietly and have never made a big to-do about marketing NewsTaco beyond word of mouth. That was Carlos’ idea: to be organic, authentic and original. The name of the service is partially his idea as well – so we have to thank him for the taco news filling.
He insisted that NewsTaco meet the highest standards of journalism, analysis, and opinion; that it serve the U.S. Latino community, and that it be fearlessly devoted to facts.
Not a year into the venture Carlos passed away. We’ve been trying to live up to his standard since.
Here’s a blurb-bio, for those of you who did’t have the fortune (and exasperation … ) of knowing him:
A seasoned writer and a founder of News Taco. He wrote for numerous publications before becoming the first Latino fulltime columnist in a major daily and the last in the nation to get a front-page column. A native of Robstown, Texas, he worked with the United Farm Workers and was a founder and leader of the Mexican American Youth Organization and Raza Unida Party. He graduated from what is now Texas A&M University at Kingsville and was a distinguished alumnus.
Days after his passing his friends and family set up the Carlos Guerra Scholarship.
Here’s a list of this year’s recipients, each awarded $500.00, as forwarded to me by Dr. Manuel Flores, who administers the awards:
1. Jazmin Alvarado, senior from Pharr Communications and Spanish major. She is the current Spanish page editor of our university newspaper The South Texan and used her money to help finance a trip to Peru this past summer.
2. Edward James Espinosa, senior journalism major from Kingsville. He is the current sports editor our university newspaper The South Texan and is a co-anchor for the football game broadcasts on ESPN, a anchor for the Javelina Broadcast Network and is co-host of a sports radio show for a Corpus Christi ESPN Radio affiliate.
3. Joseph Frymire, senior commuications/journalism major from San Antonio. He is the former managing editor editor of our university newspaper The South Texan and is currently the producer/director for the Javelina Broadcast Network.
4. Alejandra Garza, a junior History/Communications major from Hebbronville. She is currently the associate editor of our university newspaper The South Texan and also is in charge of online postings and our website.
5. Ramiro Garza, a senior RTV major from Hebbronville. He is serving as student director and manager of our university’s radio station (KTAI 91.1 FM) and has led the Javaelina Broadcast Network for the past two years.
6. Riche Garza, junior communications major from Donna. He is a staff member for the university newspaper and has been involved with the Javeliona Broadcast Network.
7. Tracey Hernandez, junior journalism major from Kingsville. She is the current chief reporter of our university newspaper The South Texan and a reporter for the Javelina Broadcast Netowrk.
8. Fares Sabawi, junior from Portland. He is the editor of our university newspaper The South Texan.
We couldn’t be prouder.
Enbuenahora Carlitos. Ya ves, se hizo realidad tu sueño.
