The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 22

2D The Monitor, www.themonitor.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2015 PROFILE About Marcol: When Marco Cantu rst started his higher education, he chose to enroll at the University of Texas Pan American as a computer science major. However, he knew that his true passion for cooking was what he wanted to pursue as a future career. Even though it was a drastic change for him academically, Marco is now a dedicated chef in the making at South Texas College. rst, it was a cult decision to make because my parents were concerned about the kind of job stability I would have in the said Marco. father is a medical doctor and my older sister was always a very good student.

I guess my parents wanted me to take the same kind of path my sister did in college. However, once my parents saw how well I was doing after just my rst semester in Culinary Arts Program, they have been very supportive of my Marco is currently on track to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and will also earn a commercial baking cate in fall 2016. He has thrived in the Culinary Arts Program, spending as much time as possible learning everything he can to become the best in his future profession. I was studying computer science, I would go to class and just come straight explained Marco. heart in it.

Now, I come to class early and stay as late as I can. It makes me happy to help with extra projects and to participate in events around campus that give me more real-world In addition to focusing on perfecting his culinary skills, Marco dreams of becoming a health coach one day, becoming a ed trainer and pursuing a degree in nutrition. He is also an active member of the STC Culinary Club and serves as treasurer. long as I can keep learning, going to continue said Marco. father inspires me.

He struggled a lot when he studied away from his family, and he has always pushed me and my sister to be the best we can. He showed us how far we can go if we apply ourselves the way he Top three accomplishments: completely bilingual when I moved from Mexico after only two years was an accomplishment. It was cult, but I kept practicing and never gave up. proud of my work ethic. It makes me happy to know that my instructors view me as a dependable student who they can count on.

fact that I committed to changing my educational path is an accomplishment. proud that I did what I knew would make me the most happy in my STUDENT OF THE WEEK MARCO CANTU KATHY ALISON GOMEZ AGE: 23 MAJOR: PHYSICS EDUCATION, EIGHTH THROUGH 12TH GRADES HOMETOWN: TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO Why UTRGV? I chose UTRGV because it is close to my home and it gave me the opportunity to develop my language skills by taking English language classes before beginning my core classes. What made you decide on your current major? Since I was a child I was interested in science and teaching. When I got to UTRGV I found out I could enroll in any Bachelor of Science with a teacher cation. I have always loved physics, so I chose physics education, eighth through 12th grades.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I would like to start working as a teacher in Brownsville. I want to stay close to my Mexican roots. Once I get the job as a teacher, I am going to look for opportunities to continue my education. I am planning on pursuing a degree in physics education or any degree program that has to do with education or science. What are you involved in on and off campus? On campus, I have been working as a math tutor for almost three years at the ASPIRE lab.

I am also a participant in ASPIRE. Off campus, I was accepted and participated in doing undergraduate research on physics education in summer 2014 at Kansas State University. It was a great experience. I liked it so much that in fall 2014, I worked with physics faculty member Dr. Karen Martirosyan on a nanoscience project, and in spring 2015, I worked with Dr.

Volker Quetschke, also a physics faculty member, on a small project with lasers. What is your biggest accomplishment to date? I think my biggest accomplishment has been my selection to participate in the Undergraduate Research Program at Kansas State University. This is not only true because I was selected, but because it allowed me to meet new people and develop my social skills. I have always been so attached to my hometown, and felt afraid of meeting new people and places. After this experience, I realized that meeting people and traveling to new places opens doors to new opportunities, in this case for me it was graduate school and maybe for future employment.

What advice do you have for future students? My advice to future students is to never give up. Problems are everywhere and college is not an exception. I am a physics major and a student. I know by experience that every problem has a solution not only for math problems, but for life (college) problems too. PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE Courtesy photo Roma ISD TexPREP students attend HESTEC Roma ISD TexPREP students recently visited the UTRGV campus in Edinburg to attend HESTEC week.

Since its inception, the Hispanic Engineering, Science, and echnology (HESTEC) Week has become a nationally recognized model for promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers among young people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. The HESTEC objectives are to raise an awareness of the opportunities available within STEM elds, encourage students to consider careers in STEM elds, and to promote higher education in the Rio Grande Valley. Students from Roma ISD attended the Middle School Challenge on Oct. 9. The students had the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and visit educational exhibits that taught them about different exciting areas of STEM.

Congratulations to the students for attending this cant and innovative event. Thank you to the teachers, chaperons, and bus drivers who accompanied the students at the HESTEC Challenge. SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR To commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Marine Military Academy in Harlingen will hold the Chosin Few Memorial Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Chosin Few Memorial Gate on the MMA campus in Harlingen.

The public is invited to this event to pay homage to the heroes of a forgotten battle and a forgotten war. Survivors of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, or those known as the Chosin Few, ill travel from across the United States to participate in this ceremony. The public is invited to attend this event, especially all Korean War veterans. According to MMA Superintendent Col R. Glenn Hill, the Korean War (June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953) is known as the MMA, the south entrance of our campus is named Chosin Few Memorial Gate.

Because so many people are unfamiliar with this period of history, parents and guests frequently ask me and the staff why is misspelled. After I tell them the spelling is correct, I tell them about the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean Hill said. The Battle of Cho- sin Reservoir (Nov. 27 to Dec. 13, 1950) was one of the bloodiest battles during the Korean War.

It was also one of the coldest battles in history and often referred to as It was during the coldest winter in 100 years in North Korea that 8,000 ghters, mostly Marines, were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese soldiers at the Chosin Reservoir. In 17 days of brutal, subzero temperatures, the men battled wave after wave of Chinese soldiers as they fought 78 miles down a steep and narrow mountain road they called the MSR, or main supply route. By icting crippling losses on the Chinese, the Allied troops actually broke through the trap and reached freedom at the Hungnam port. Their ghting spirit, courage and determination saved the lives of 98,000 civilian refugees. Survivors and family members of the fallen men at the Battle of Cho- sin Reservoir who plan to attend the Dec.

12 ceremony are asked to call (956) 421-9222 or email Marine Military Academy is a college-preparatory boarding school for young men in grades eight to 12 with an optional post-graduate year. Since 1965, MMA is the only private school in the world based on the traditions and values of the U.S. Marine Corps. Located in Harlingen, MMA has been home to thousands of sons from across the world and is quarters to the historic Iwo Jima Monument. To learn more about MMA, visit Courtesy photo MMA to commemorate 65th anniversary of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR In the 33-year history of the TMEA All Region Competition, there have never been two siblings leading both orchestras until now.

Two Edinburg sisters made history on Nov. 14 and 15 as they each earned the spot of Concert Master in the high school and middle school orchestras of the Texas Music Educators A ssociation Region 15 All Region Competition. Every year, the TMEA Region 15, which includes school districts from Pharr to Roma, holds auditions in October to form the All Region High School and Middle School Orchestras. The band and orchestra programs in the Region prepare their best and brightest stu- dent musicians to vie for a spot in the orchestras, which then hold a two day clinic in November with renowned Orchestra Conductors. Angela and Sophia Llanes, both students of Valley Symphony Concert Master Geoffrey Wong, auditioned along with more than 100 of the best and brightest violinists in their respective divisions in October and were accepted into the rst violin sections of their respective orchestras.

There was an additional seating audition at the start of the All Region clinic, and both were chosen for the coveted spot of concert master, in this case, concert mistress. This is the rst chair rst violin spot that tunes the orchestra and is otherwise considered the orchestra leader, second only to the conductor. Sophia is a straight seventh-grade student at Longoria Middle School in Edinburg. She plays in the school orchestra under the direction of Fidel Garza. She was also on the school volleyball team and likes to play Skyrim and Modern Warfare with her dad.

Angela is a senior at Edinburg North High School where she plays in the school Mariachi Oro which was invited to represent the Mariachi form and music in North America at the prestigious Iguazu Music Festival in Argentina last summer. She also plays in the Varsity Orchestra where her dad, Director Moises Llanes, has been leading the program since 1991. Angela has won numerous awards and was invited to the Interlochen Summer Conservatory in Michigan where she got to work with professors from Julliard, Eastman, Oberlin and Manhattan School of Music among others. Angela has made the All-State Orchestra and won rst division medals at State Solo and Ensemble. She has received offers from several universities, and is looking at Baylor, SMU and Rice.

While Sophia is concert mistress of her school orchestra, the thought of leading the best musicians in the Region was almost more than she could handle. After a quick pep talk from the Clinician Conductor, Cathy Fishburn, a renown conductor form the Houston area, she set her fears aside and took the stage like a professional. Edinburg sisters make history leading All Region Orchestras Courtesy photo McAllen High show set for December run McAllen High Theatre will present the Tony Award winning show at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 and Dec.

10 and 11 at McAllen High auditorium (2021 La Vista In a Gotham- like city, a terrible water shortage caused by a 20-year drought has led to a government- enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that ts by charging admission for one of most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom. Tickets for general admission are $8 and student tickets are $5. For more information, call (956) 632-3172..