For 25 years, we have been helping working adults move out of poverty
and into careers with life-changing wages, Our solution is education!
OUR LIFE CHANGERS
There are countless stories we could tell about individuals in the Rio Grande Valley who made the decision to allow VIDA to help them change their lives and, for so many of them, their children's lives, as well. In the process, these men and women, committed to completing their degrees and certificates, have also changed our communities--educationally, financially, emotionally, and in numerous other ways.
We wish we could share every story with you, but instead, we are telling the stories of a few who represent the many who chose to grow...who chose a better VIDA.
Jolynda Arriaga
TODAY
After earning her bachelor's, Jolynda worked at VIDA as a case manager for three years. She went on to earn her master's degree at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Jolynda now works for Santa Rosa ISD earning $45,000 plus benefits. She is married with three children.
JOLYNDA IS A LIFE CHANGER
2011 - Single mom on public assistance, working 20 hours a week at $7.35 per hour
Eusebio Aguirre
Eusebio was earning $6.50 an hour as a health-care provider when he applied to VIDA. He had limited English
skills at the time and thought college was out of his reach.
TODAY
Eusebio's VIDA case manager helped him turn that thinking around. After being accepted into the LVNProgram at South Texas College, Eusebio graduated and passed the national licensure exam. He now works at an adult-day-care center, and he tripled his income!
EUSEBIO is a LIFE CHANGER!
Margarita "Rita" Olvera
TODAY
VIDA helped Rita with child care and tuition, as well as counseling and guidance. She earned a bachelor's in teaching and then went on to get her master's. Rita is a special-education teacher in San Benito ISD earning over $60,000, plus benefits!
RITA IS A LIFE CHANGER, now inspiring Valley students!
Rita was a divorced, unemployed mom on public assistance when her sister told her about VIDA!
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VALLEY BUSINESS REPORT SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON A VIDA LIFE CHANGER EACH MONTH
We are grateful to Valley Business Report for spotlighting our current students and our graduates, and we want to share those spotlights with you! You will learn more about our VIDA Life Changers through these stories.
From Catch-22 To A Successful Career, March 2021 Spotlight
One Door Closes, Another VIDA Opens, February 2021 Spotlight
A Life Is Turned Around with VIDA, January 2021 Spotlight
Never Too Late to Seek a Brighter Future, December 2020 Spotlight
From Restaurant Cook to Patient Care, November 2020 Spotlight
Army Vet Feels Secure on Path to Success, October 2020 Spotlight
Financial Stability Offers Cindy Monge a New VIDA, September 2020 Spotlight
A Mother's Guide to Empowering Her Daughter, August 2020 Spotlight
Removing Roadblocks Among Stepping Stones, July 2020 Spotlight
Doors Now Open for Janet Oliva Cortez, June 2020 Spotlight
Mentoring and Accountability Make All the Difference, May 2020 Spotlight
Changing Generations, Changing Lives, April 2020 Spotlight
Mere Coincidence or Serendipitous? March 2020 Spotlight
VIDA Nurse's Budding Career Path, February 2020 Spotlight
Wraparound Services Making All the Difference for Anna Martinez, January 2020 Spotlight
ALLIED HEALTH
Bachelor's:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Cinthia Rodriguez
Associate's Degree:
Associate Degree in Nursing
Esmeralda Cardenas
LVN-ADN Progressive***
Alejandra Abdeljalek
Anna Martinez
Crystal Sanchez
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Monica Enriquez
Laura Gamez
Physical Therapy Assistant
Yvette Salinas
Radiology Technician
Barbie Gonzalez
Isabel Lopez
Allison Medelez
Michael Ortiz
Surgical Technician
Analisa Garza
Certificate:
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Maria Alanis
Karina Alvarado
Anai Bernal
Jennifer Bulnes
Kimberly Castellanos
Johanadel Castillo
Bianca Guzman
Hassel Lambarri
Lisbeth Luna
Jaquelene Martinez
Melinda Mendoza
Jorge Ochoa
Daniel Oliva
Jeanette Perez
Claudia Perez
Yvonne Segura
Stacey Vela
Charlen Villarreal
Evelyn Villarreal
David Zapata
Marketable Skill:
Patient Care Assistant
Juan De La Rosa
BUSINESS
Bachelor's:
Organizational Leadership
Dalila Perez
EDUCATION
and
SOCIAL SERVICES
Associate's Degree:
Criminal Justice
Brenda Nunez Gonzalez
Jose Quezada
Education and Training
Victoria Castillo
Sign Language Interpreter
Amelia Ximenes
MANUFACTURING
Associates Degree:
Precision and Manufacturing Technology
Agapito Sarmiento
SPECIALIZED TRADES
Associates:
Automotive Technology Technician
Santiago Espinoza
Certificate:
Combination Welding
Miguel Leal
Structural Welding
Jose Dominguez
TECHNOLOGY
Associates:
Engineering
Joe Singleterry
STEM
Bachelors:
Business Mangement Technology
Marisa Olivarez
Math
Eduardo Torres
*ADN - Associate's Degree in Nursing
**LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse
***LVN-ADN Progressive - This is for those who have been accepted into the LVN Program and will automatically move into the ADN Program.
****LVN-ADN Transition - Designed for LVNs working toward an eventual bachelor's in nursing to become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN)