Slice Of Life

People to People: Ashlee Winters

Winters was picked to participate in leadership summit

For more than a year, Ashlee Winters crossed her fingers to get picked for a national program that could help her into her favorite college.This past week, she was part of the People to People Leadership Summit at Rice University in Houston.“I&... Full story

Giving back: Cassie Contreras

Contreras focuses on bringing communities out of poverty

By FERNANDO DEL VALLE/Valley Morning Star

When Cassie Contreras left college, she wanted to make a difference.At the University of Texas-Pan American, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing.After she graduated, she signed up for a year’s stint with AmeriCorps-VISTA,... Full story

Medical community: Nora Castañeda-Rivas

Castañenda-Rivas' skills helped her become a marketing director

Nora Castañeda-Rivas is looking forward to serving on a state advisory council on emergency medical services because it will be another way to serve her community, she said.Born and raised in Harlingen, she’s a graduate of Harlingen High... Full story

Living In ‘Paradise’: Bill Donahue

Hotel manager wouldn't change anything about his life

By CARL PHILLIPS/Special to the Star

Bill Donahue is living proof that a man can be successful even if his career path chooses him instead of the other way around.He began his college education while he was serving in the Air Force. After his discharge he was looking for a job that woul... Full story

The Zumba life: Rebecca Cortez

Cortez performed at WNBA half-time show

MICHAEL BARAJAS/Valley Morning Star

When she started teaching Zumba years ago, Rebecca Cortez never thought she’d end up teaching a class, let alone performing in a national forum.“I started doing it just for fun. I never thought I’d be teaching or going out and perfo... Full story

In the classroom: Meli Lira

Harlingen resident Lira realized teaching is her career path

By DANIEL PERRY/Special to the Star

Meli Lira of Harlingen realized what her career path was as she listened to children’s laughter and witnessed their tireless energy. Lira, 28, graduated in spring 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of Texas &nda... Full story

Stepping up: Dorothy Timm

Ronald McDonald House names Timm outstanding volunteer

By TRAVIS M. WHITEHEAD/The Brownsville Herald

Dorothy Timm was quite surprised when she was invited to an annual meeting of an organization where she volunteers.The Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald Charities of the Rio Grande Valley invited her and several other volunteers to the May 11... Full story

Inspirational Award: Migdalia Banda

Dream house design motivates Migdalia Banda

By DAVE RALPH/Special to the Star

Dream houses seldom go beyond a “dream,” but Migdalia Banda is hard at work on computerized design details for her dream house.The computer drafting and design technology major at Texas State Technical College regularly invests extra hour... Full story

New lifestyle: Alma Vela

Vela and her husband opened Breathe Life Christian Church

Alma Vela is breathing new life into an old building that community members helped turn into a church.“God just moves people,” she said.Six years ago, Vela gave her life to Jesus Christ after her husband Ramon became a Christian, she said... Full story

Making rounds: Paula Cruz

Cruz has been nursing for more then 43 years in Harlingen

Paula Cruz is a very familiar face at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.For 43 years, she has made the rounds, helping patients and doctors.Actually she’s been providing service to patients for more than 43 years because she began working... Full story

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