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RGVision Magazine
Therapy Dogs - Denise Silcox has served as a volunteer evaluator and instructor with Pet Partners for nearly 15 years and has one of her three dogs active in the Therapy Animal Program. To enroll, a person and their pet must complete a handler’s workshop, then be evaluated as a team to ensure they work well together.
Read the full article here.
Professor and doctoral student honored with national awards by NCRE
This summer, the National Council on Rehabilitation Education recognized Nancy Riddick, a UTRGV graduate student, with the Doctoral Student of the Year award, and Dr. Bruce J. Reed, professor of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling and director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling, with the Distinguished Career in Rehabilitation Education Award. Photo credit: Paul Chouy
THE NEWSROOM - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS - August 31, 2021 – Nancy Riddick met UTRGV’s Dr. Bruce J. Reed in 2017, where they were both attending the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) conference in California.
At the time, Riddick was searching for a university to pursue her doctorate in Rehabilitation Services and Counseling.
“From the many professors and universities, I was introduced to, I decided on UTRGV,” Riddick said. “I interviewed, completed all the paperwork and was honored to be accepted to the doctoral program. So, I closed my home in North Carolina, said so-long to family, friends and my job, and made the 23-hour drive to Edinburg, Texas.”
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Our very own Addiction Studies student Stephanie Ayala was selected as the 2021 NAADAC William White Scholarship Undergrad Award winner! This is a national scholarship with a $1000 award and she is the lone undergrad recipient. |
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May 11, 2021 |
Name: Anayi Lenise Garza Why UTRGV? |
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Dr. Eluterio (Jr) Blanco, our Addiction Studies program coordinator, was recently announced as the Texas Association of Addiction Professional’s (the largest association of addiction professionals in the state) 2020 Terry B. Hale Professional of the Year at their annual state conference. This annual award was created in 2003 to recognize a professional in the field of addiction prevention, intervention or treatment who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the advancement of the profession and commitment to their community and the TAAP organization. |
Dr. Blanco has been involved in leadership roles and professional service with TAAP since 2014. That year he both re-established a local chapter of TAAP in the Rio Grande Valley and was elected by his peers to serve as a member on the TAAP Board of Directors. He served a three-year term as local chapter President, completing duties such as re-vitalizing interest in the chapter, capacity building, and having the chapter officially recognized by the state association. Dr. Blanco recently ended two consecutive three-year terms of service to the TAAP Board of Directors, however he remains involved with the state association as he chairs the state committee on Workforce Development and Student Involvement, which includes promoting scholarships for UTRGV Addiction Studies students and having a stronger student presence at the annual TAAP conference.
Graduate overcomes own struggles to be first UTRGV graduate to earn a BS in Addiction Studies
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Quincie Gomez, from Harlingen, became the first graduate to earn a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies from the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling on Dec. 13 during Fall 2019 Commencement. (Courtesy Photo) |
DEC 19, 2019 - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Four years ago, Quincie Gomez did not recognize the girl standing in front of the mirror as she struggled with a substance use disorder. She thought she would never overcome it. Today, she says, with the help of divine assistance and her belief in herself, Gomez has beat her addiction and on Dec. 13 became the first graduate to earn a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies from the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling.
This award recognizes an undergraduate student who has demonstrated outstanding service, leadership, advocacy, and/or research contribution in rehabilitation and/or with individuals with disabilities. Mr. Dimas has served as the president of the REHAB South club for the past two academic years. Under his leadership the club has flourished and been involved in many disability advocacy and outreach events. Mr. Dimas was actively involved in the coordination and development of our campuses’ Autism Day event, and he organized a Student’s Mental Health Fair last fall semester. He will be graduating this May from our program and has been a student here at the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling for the past 3 years. He is a graduate of Weslaco High School and besides his accomplishments, he works full time to help at home financially.
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The School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling MS program in the College of Health Professions at UTRGV recently received a 5-year, $1,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. This federal support helps expand the number of rehabilitation counselors in the field; rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities (physical, psychological, additions., etc.) to live independent lives. |
The grant will help fund students seeking Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Preparation training and pays full tuition and fees as well as a monthly stipend. Additionally, financial supports are made available to students wishing to attend local, state and national conferences and reimbursement of credentialing examination fees.
Congratulations to all the SRSC student recipients of the College of Health Professions Student Excellence Awards.
We had students recognized at all three program levels for Academic Excellence, Community Service and Research Excellence. Undergraduate level: Josue Dimas and Antonio Gonzalez. MS level: Richard Clayton, Brianna Escobar, and Cindy Campos-Saucedo. PhD level: Brandi Cruz, Andrea Almaguer-Botero and Nancy Riddick. Here are a few photos of the evening. (Cindy Campos is not pictured)
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AACR is a form of animal-assisted activities which provides comfort to those who have been affected by natural, human-caused, or technological disasters. AACR is effective because the safety, familiarity, novelty, and interest in the animal have been found to be impactful when building rapport with a person affected by crisis including first responders and crisis management staff. Pet Partners and FEMA worked together to provide training and to develop a “neighbor helping neighbor” model where teams are deployed close to home rather than having to travel long distances. |
Andrea Almaguer-Botero placed fourth at the Graduate Student Research Showcase Fall 2019.
Title of Research: Improving the Classroom Experience by Proving Teachers with a Mindfulness Intervention.
UTRGV Program Nationally Ranked
KVEO.com - July 18, 2019 - EDINBURG, Texas — For the fifth year in a row a Master of Science program at UTRGV is nationally ranked.
U.S. News and World Report ranks the UTRGV Rehabilitation and Counseling Graduate Program 14th in the nation. In a previous ranking the program was tied at 15 with the University of North Texas in Denton. The program also ranks first among all UT System Schools and second in the state.
Dr. Elizabeth Chavez-Palacios, UTRGV Program Graduate Coordinator, “Our faculty sets us apart. Within our field we have top researchers that have been actually given awards at the national level.”
Dr. Chavez-Palacios adding that the school is very proud of the ranking and now has a goal of achieving a top 10 ranking for the program.
New UTRGV online degree program in Addiction Studies launches this Fall
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 6, 2018 – The UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling starting this fall semester will offer a brand new Bachelor of Science degree in Addiction Studies that is fully online.
The degree program has been developed to satisfy education requirements for becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in Texas.
TELEHEALTH Certification Institute - Clinical Military Counselor Certificate (CMCC) course
The School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling at UTRGV will be hosting the Clinical Military Counselor Certificate (CMCC) Part-One course on March 22, 2019 at the UTRVG McAllen Teaching Site. This 6 CE hour event covers the competencies of providing counseling and related services to active duty service members, veterans, veterans with disabilities, and their families.
This course teaches the competencies of providing counseling and related services to:
- Active duty service members
- Veterans
- Veterans with disabilities
- Family members
The full CCMC will increase your knowledge, awareness, and skills of the unique cultural differences in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in military counseling and related services.
Five modules in the CCMC course offer participants comprehensive material related to the service member and veterans’ medical, psychosocial, behavioral, cultural, mental health, family life, vocational, and career transition needs.
Clinical Military Counselor Certificate Information flyer
Location: McAllen Teaching Site, 1800 S. Main St. #1100, Room # 1.103, McAllen, TX 78503
Date and time: 3/22 8AM-4PM
How to earn the CMCC certificate:
- Attend Part-One on 3/22, 6 CE hours, $197
- Complete Part-Two online as a self-study, 6 CE hours, $197
Save by registering for both Part-One and Part-Two $380
Course Details and Registration: https://militarycounselingtraining.com/
You can contact the Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC at 585-687-8837 Support@TelehealthCertificationInstitute.com
UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling offers new leadership program for female undergrad students
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 6, 2019 – The UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling has initiated a new program called Leadership Now, open to undergraduate female students majoring or minoring in rehabilitation services and counseling. |
Moyer: Strong pieces not enough to save UVAL exhibit from lack of direction – The Monitor – Dec. 3, 2018 - This year’s “UVAL Annual Members Exhibition” at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center in Mission offered more to think about than to see. Yes, there were a few positive art experiences in this show… |
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The Center receives funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. With this appointment, Dr. Umeasiegbu will be mentored in conducting federally-funded disability-related research. Congrats Dr. V.! |
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Three generations of rehabilitation services students at UTRGV and legacy institution UTPA – Bonnie Marie Notergiacomo, her son Jesus Alberto Basañez, and her mother Ernestina Notergiacomo (shown here posthumously, in a framed photograph) – all have been involved in the university’s Rehabilitation Services program, and all have been recipients of the federal RSA Scholarship from the U.S. Department of Education. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy) |
| Grandmother, daughter and grandson all recipients of RSA Scholarship | |
By Amanda A. Taylor
EDINBURG, TEXAS – MARCH 15, 2018 – When it comes to giving back to the community, UTRGV student Jesus Basañez learned from some of the best. His grandmother, Ernestina Notargiacomo, started the ball rolling. Then her daughter (and Jesus’s mother), Bonnie Notargiacomo, followed. Now, it’s Jesus’s turn.
2017 Profiles in Excellence
May 2, 2017
Name: Joseph Houston Barber Jr.
Age: 22
Major: Rehabilitation Services
Hometown: Mission
Why UTRGV?
Initially after graduation from high school, I received a full scholarship, through wrestling and academia, to Lindenwood University in Illinois. When they announced that they had not proceeded to make my degree program a full bachelor’s, I knew immediately that I wanted to come back and attend UTPA/UTRGV. Unlike other large campuses, I knew through high school tours that the campus was beautiful and was the perfect size to feel free, yet small enough to make great friendships and connections.
**NEW** Contemporary Research in Disability and Rehabilitation Journal
The Contemporary Research in Disability and Rehabilitation (CRDR) , is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed and open access journal, published quarterly by the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. This journal is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration by publishing innovative empirical research germane to disability, rehabilitation counseling, allied health, and other disability-related fields.
Exciting news!! Our own Dr. Veronica Umeasiegbu and Ms. Kim Finn have been recognized by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE)
These are very prestigious awards by our main professional organization - they will be honored at our national conference in April! The National Council on Rehabilitation Education Spring 2017 Conference
Dr. Veronica Umeasiegbu has been selected as New Career in Rehabilitation Education Award. This is a prestigious award in Rehab. To be eligible you must be within the first five years of your academic career. Self-nominations are not accepted and you have to have letters from professors outside your geographic area.
Ms. Kim Finn who has been selected as NCRE doctoral student of the year!
We are all proud off you Veronica & Kim!