2025 Recipients of Senator Judith Zaffirini Teachers’ College Student Loan Debt Grant Program Named at TAMIU Reception Nov. 18

This Thanksgiving season four Laredo educators will have an extra reason to be thankful -- all are recipients of a college student loan debt grant program award established by Carlos Zaffirini, Jr. to honor his mother, Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini. 

The 2025 recipients of The Senator Judith Zaffirini Teachers' College Student Loan Debt Grant Program were named at a reception Tuesday (Nov. 18), hosted at Texas A&M International University's Zaffirini Student Success Center.

Senator Zaffirini shared her thoughts on the day’s uplifting occasion.  

“Awarding grants to help teachers pay their college student loans always is a source of great inspiration. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on and support the outstanding men and women who devote themselves to preparing our children and grandchildren for a much better and brighter future.

“I’m so grateful to my son, Carlos Zaffirini Jr., for establishing and funding this meaningful annual project in 2017 and for naming it in my honor as a birthday present. It’s also his way of thanking teachers who made a difference in his life,” Senator Zaffirini said.

The honorees, recognized for their outstanding dedication to Laredo students and their institutions, are as follows.

Dr. Nancy Vela Herrera, Laredo College

Dr. Nancy Vela Herrera is registered nurse with more than 16 years of experience in clinical practice and nursing education. She earned her LVN, ADN and BSN from Laredo College, an MSN in Nursing Administration from Texas A&M International University and a DNP  in Educational Leadership from Chamberlain University. Dr. Vela Herrera is experienced in geriatric care, mental health and neonatal care. She is a nursing instructor in Laredo College’s Associate Degree Nursing program and dedicated to preparing future nurses for excellence. Her passion lies in mentoring students, advocating for their success, and promoting evidence-based practice to improve bedside care and quality.

Dr. Valeria Christina Valdez, Laredo Independent School District

Dr. Valeria Christina Valdez is a third-grade teacher at Santo Niño Elementary School and has demonstrated exceptional dedication to her students, colleagues and the school community. She is deeply committed to ensuring all students feel valued, supported and inspired to reach their fullest potential. She is the Co-Sponsor of the Robotics and the National Elementary Honor Society, fostering leadership, teamwork and innovation among students. The Laredo Morning Times named her a Best Teacher in 2023, and she was also Santo Niño’s 2024 School Bell Award nominee for excellence in teaching. 

Dr. Ray Garza Jr., Texas A&M International University

Dr. Ray Garza is a native Laredoan and an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M International University. After completing his PhD at Oklahoma State University, he understood the great need to motivate and mentor TAMIU students to become heavily involved in the research experience. His TAMIU research lab, the Evolutionary Visual Lab, uses eye-tracking technology to help understand the complex cognitive mechanisms involved in human behavior. He hopes to continue to encourage students to do more with their education at TAMIU.

Diana Medina-Rendon, United Independent School District

Diana Medina-Rendon has served as an educator for the United Independent School District for 27 years. She is in her 13^th year as an eighth-grade Social Studies teacher and Campus Instructional Technology Trainer at Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle School. Ms. Rendon holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Texas A&M University in College Station. She recently obtained a Master of Arts in History from Texas A&M International University and intends to pursue a PhD in History, with a specialization in Indigenous Studies, following her retirement from UISD.

Each recipient of The Senator Judith Zaffirini Teachers' College Student Loan Debt Grant Program receives $2,500 to help reduce his or her college student loan debt. To qualify, teachers must have taught in Laredo for at least five years, have a college student loan debt of at least $5,000, and be selected by their institutions based on program criteria. The Laredo program was launched in 2017 and expanded to southeast Austin in 2019. Participating institutions select their respective recipients each year. 

Registration for TAMIU Wintermester and Spring 2026 classes is underway. To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration. 

More on the University’s story is available at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.