(FORT BEND) - Christina Vargas is the Assistant Director of Enrollment Management for Texas State Technical College in Fort Bend County and has added Chancellor’s Excellence Award recipient to her title.
“I was overwhelmed and humbled when I found out about this recognition,” said Vargas. “I know so many hard workers that I look up to and I know are deserving. So this was an unexpected honor.”
The Chancellor’s Excellence Award has celebrated employees who exhibit TSTC’s core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service and Integrity for the last 19 years.
TSTC employees are nominated by their peers, provosts and vice chancellors and are chosen for their distinguished service and dedication to the college, communities and their state for this award.
“The teammates who win this award model excellence for us all and are recognized for both their sound character and for advancing TSTC’s new direction,” said TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser. “Due to their caring and dedicated efforts, TSTC continues to make a difference in the employment success of our students.”
Vargas was selected among 160 faculty and staff members who were nominated and is one of 35 recipients statewide.
It’s been two years since Vargas first arrived at TSTC, and as a Rosenberg native she said she is happy to be home.
“It feels great to be serving the community where I grew up with education,” she said. “Being back here has brought back so many great memories.”
Although Vargas has an hour to an hour-and-a-half drive every day from Victoria, where her and her family reside, she said it’s worth it because she gets to change lives for the better.
“Helping students find success is my favorite thing,” said Vargas. “Especially when they thought college was out of reach for them. And seeing them put on that cap and gown is the cherry on top.”
Vargas has been serving students in various capacities for more than 2 decades. She came to TSTC with extensive experience in teaching for both public and private school, and with student services experience from Victoria College and University of Houston-Victoria, both of which she also attended as a student.
“I look forward to growing with the campus,” said Vargas. “I have a great team that inspires, encourages and motivated each other and our students, and TSTC cares not only about their students’ success, but also about their faculty and staff growing. This is what makes TSTC a great place to work.”
Vargas said TSTC overall has won her family over because even her son is part of the TSTC family as a student in Environmental Compliance Technology.
“TSTC is changing lives every day, including ours,” said Vargas. “It’s great to be a part of something big like this and I’m honored that someone, somewhere feels that work I am doing is invaluable and worthy. The Chancellor’s Excellence Award is a validation and great honor.”
Vargas will be honored in May at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Awards dinner and celebration in Austin where, she and the other Chancellor’s Award recipients, will receive their awards.