Jaclyn Guzmán
Staff Writer
Southwest Texas Junior College held an open house for the new Chittim Technical Campus.
Dean of Workforce Education Romelia D. Aranda welcomed guests to the event, and spoke on what a pleasant surprise the size of the new building was.
“I certainly didn’t imagine we’d end up with a facility to host not only a welding class, but a welding program, diesel program, truck driving program, law enforcement academy, and our workforce education programs as well, which include nurse aide, medical assistant, phlebotomy, EKG technician, pharmacy technician. We’re getting ready to do real estate, and we have a computer lab.
We didn’t imagine that, we were just talking a welding class,” said Aranda who thanked President Dr. Hector Gonzales and the SWTJC board for all their support.
Among those in attendance were community dignitaries including Mayor Ramsey English Cantú, State Representative Tracy King, Maverick County Judge David Saucedo, and EPISD Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez.
English Cantú, a former SWTJC student himself, was happy to see the accomplishments the school has had over the past few years, and thanked the board of directors and President Gonzales for their continued efforts to provide more opportunities to students in the region.
English Cantú also mentioned that he was grateful for families like the Chittims who contributed so much locally.
“This technical campus carries a name of a family that has done so much for this community. As the board and the Chittim family have worked together on this venture I do want to commend them for providing other opportunities for a number of students,” said English Cantú. “As we see those people and the students out there today whether in diesel technology or welding or law enforcement academy or anything that has to do with these certificates being provided, it’s great to see we have wonderful families that we continue to partner with. To the Chittum family I want to commend you all for working with the college and I want to thank you all because I think that Jack Chittum would be very proud of what’s going on here today.”
Rep. King also congratulated the Chittim family, SWTJC, and the Eagle Pass and Maverick County community for the work they put into completing this project.
“The Chtttim family is a very special family, and certainly Jack Chittim was a very special man. He was a great man and the Chittim family is wonderful for working with the college on this. SWTJC has been doing a great job for a number of years, and they continue to exhibit a very strong leadership role throughout our part of the state in developing young minds and hearts for the future leaders in this part of the state,” said King. ”I congratulate you and the great work that you’re doing Dr. Gonzales, that your predecessors have done and that you board does and the vision you show fro this part of the country. My job in the TX house of representatives is to try and help institutions like SWTJC in every way that I can, and unfortunately we’re looking at a pretty tight budgetary cycle this time coming up, but I know Poncho Nevarez and Senator Uresti and myself are going to work as hard as we can to try and get as much funding as we can so we can continue the great work that you’ve done.”
County Judge Saucedo gave his thanks to the Chittim Family, EPISD, and SWTJC for the opportunities the facility would provide to so many.
“It doesn’t seem that long ago that we had an event at the main campus and now we’re here. We’re looking at a beautiful facility that houses people from our community, people that we represent, and it’s beautiful to see the work the time they put into these programs,” said Saucedo. “I’d like to thank the Chittim family for their commitment to the relationship in our community not only with us as representatives, but also the institution of the junior college and middle rio grande. They are a family that’s always been there for our community. Beyond doing what they do publicly, I know privately from stories I’ve heard from individuals who’ve worked with them on a personal basis, that they’ve taken care of their people, and now they’re taking care of our community which is very important.”
Superintendent Gonzalez thanked Aranda for her involvement in the development of the technical programs, and SWTJC administration for their investments in the future of many former EPISD students.
“Thank you so much Hector, your partnership with EPISD is tremendous. What you’ve done is taken it two or three steps forward. I congratulate you and your board for having the vision where Eagle Pass is where it needs to be,” said Gonzalez.
Dr. Gonzales was last to speak, telling a story on how the search for a facility for their welding program led to the new Chittim Technical Campus, and it’s importance.
“This campus is really an amazing addition to the community. It is our commitment to Maverick County and Eagle Pass. Our responsibility is to enhance education for the communities we serve and in the past year and a half we’ve invested over $10 million additionally here in this community for the purpose of enhancing your community, you students, that’s how much we believe in Maverick County,” said Gonzales. “About 1.5 years ago we were struggling to find place to make a welding lab, and we saw there used to be a small storage shed, and we said what if we use that. I saw it and said what if we buy it? We were talking about leasing it, i said why don’t we buy it and i could se the vision of a campus and that vision doesn’t end here.
Gonzales hopes to see the campus and technical programs grow in the near future.
“This is the beginning the first step of that vision is to fully develop this as a technical campus. There’s a lot of other technical programs we could bring to the community: air conditioning, automotive, cosmetology. Not every student is geared for academics. We understand that, but there’s room for technical certifications that will help students get ahead in life, get a better education, get a better paying job, and that’s our commitment to provide an alternative to all the students,” said Gonzales. “The finances are tough and we have to really make strategic decisions on how we allocate those resources, but this was a push we felt was necessary. Our goal is to fully develop this campus and enhance opportunities for the students.”
Gonzales finished his speech by reading the statement prepared by the Chittim family that they asked him to read on their behalf.
“Our family is deeply appreciative of the honor you have bestowed by naming the school the Jack Chittim technical campus of SWTJC. Jack Chittim would’ve been supportive and enthusiastic about promoting technical skills which he would’ve seen as a path to opportunity for young people. Our parents care deeply about their community here. Our father participated in the construction of Veterans Blvd and the old Eagle Pass High School. His community involvement with Maverick County Oil and Water Conservation Board, Redeemer Episcopal Church and School, and support of the annual Stock Show were some of those efforts.
“SWTJC would’ve had no greater friend in this new endeavor than Jack Chittim. We wish all your students and faculty workers the greatest success in the future. Thank you for honoring him in such a meaningful way.
Respectfully, the daughters of Jack and Dorothy Chittim.”