OUR MISSION STATEMENT
"Rio Grande Valley College is committed to the personal, intellectual, and professional growth of its students, faculty, and staff.
As the premiere college, our goal is to inspire and empower a diverse population with a lifelong passion for learning, the knowledge to succeed and serve the community."
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Dr. Annabelle Palomo
RGV College
CEO/School President
Dr. Annabelle Palomo is a native resident of the Rio Grande Valley. She earned a bachelor's degree in science, a master's degree in education, and a doctorate in education from the University of Texas Pan American. During a 17-year period, as an educator she has worked as a teacher, principal, and executive director for an independent school district before pursuing her passion and founding a post-secondary institute to support local students' educational opportunities and pathways. Through her consultant work, she has also trained school personnel in the areas of leadership and different teaching methodologies, she is the recipient of several esteemed honors for distinction in education, such as District Teacher of the Year and the Texas Elementary Principal of the Year Award.
Dr. Palomo is the founder and CEO of Rio Grande Valley College, which educates students in the Nursing and Allied Health Fields. With just five students enrolled in a Certified Nurse Aide program at first, she used her background in education to grow RGV College into a nine-program institution that offers vocational nursing, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, emergency medical technician (EMT), phlebotomy technician, and two-degree programs leading up to an Associate Degree in Nursing and Physical Therapist Assistant. With almost 1,500 nurses trained and the second highest NCLEX pass rate in Texas, the Vocational Nursing Program has made significant contributions to the fight against the nation's nursing shortage.
Still with her numerous accomplishments, Dr. Palomo receives coaching, leadership development, and public speaking instruction from John Maxwell and Les Brown. Her present training under organizational health movement pioneer Patrick Lencioni is a major factor in the institute's low staff turnover rate. She currently serves as a Board Member for the Pharr Economic Development Board Foundation and the Pharr Chamber of Commerce, is an Advisory Board Member for Lone Star National Bank, VAMOS (Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships) Board Member, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Advisory Board Member for Educational Leadership and on the Board for TEAM Mario which focuses on exploring educational opportunities for individuals with Autism.
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Palomo has set high standards and expectations for children as an educator and advocate for their success. Her wealth of knowledge in the field of education has influenced and benefited students in the past and will help those of future generations. With her exceptional dedication to her work and personal life, although facing several obstacles, greatly contributes to the academic and professional achievements of both staff and students at Rio Grande Valley College.
Who Are We....
Located in the border city of Pharr, Texas and established in 2008, RGV College was the vision of educators and entrepreneurs who have guided this institution’s growth into one of the most sought-after vocational schools in the Rio Grande Valley for its A+ grade level education.
RGV College exists on the principle that all individuals, regardless of race, age, previous education, or economic background can take advantage of the benefits acquired through Vocational Education.
Facts at a glance
RGV College is located in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation. Often considered a medical "mecca", the Rio Grande Valley is one of the regions with an increasing number of healthcare patients, and naturally, this community will also need a larger pool of competent and caring healthcare professionals.
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This gives our institution a greater advantage in educating those needed in the medical Industry.
Conveniently located, with easy access from the expressway, our institution is proximal to many cities in the Rio Grande Valley allowing our students to travel from other cities with better and faster travel routes.
Emblem, Colors and Symbols
About our Emblem
By general definition, an owl has been considered throughout history as a representation of knowledge, wisdom, exceptional vision and acute hearing making it a perfect symbol of education for our institution.
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From Greek Mythology, to Africa and Australia's medicine men, and many Native American Tribe Shamans, the owl has been a symbol to be called upon by those trying to heal the ill.
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This connection makes our Horned Owl the perfect symbol for our institution.
Meaning of the Colors
Gold: Generosity and Elevation of The Mind
Blue: Truth and Loyalty
Meaning of the Symbols
Tree: Tree of Life
Florence Nightingale Lamp: Nursing care as a source of reliability, goodwill, warmth – regardless of time and place
Book: Manifestation of Knowledge
Owl: Wise and Vigilant
Mascot: Howie the Owl
Because community involvement is important to us, we created a massive campaign to find the perfect name for our mascot. It was important that the name was something children and young adults would relate to since our mascot will visit them often in their schools and community events.
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The name "Howie" was chosen from hundreds of submissions made to us from children across the Rio Grande Valley through the Newspapers In Education Campaign created by The Monitor newspaper.
“HOWIE”
THE NAME WAS SUBMITTED BY THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN:
ERIC RESENDIZ
3rd Grade
E.J. Salazar Elementary
Donna, Texas
MAURICIO MATA
K-147
Memorial Elementary
Weslaco, Texas
MARCO REYNA
2nd Grade
Eisenhower Elementary
Edinburg, Texas
Volunteerism
RGV College promotes philanthropy and civic duty within their student base to strengthen the belief that we must all do something for another to help make our community stronger.
By practicing positive changes, whether they are small, like carpooling, to collecting hundreds of pounds of food to feed the needy, we believe that once the seed of good deed is planted, it will grow and give blessing to those around our students’ lives.