Teach For America Rio Grande Valley (TFA RGV) has named three honorees for its ninth annual Honor Roll Gala. The event is set for April 3, 2027, at the Mission Event Center in Mission, Texas. It recognizes individuals and organizations that contribute to educational opportunities and community development across the Rio Grande Valley.
Attorney Gary Gurwitz will receive the Educational Champion Award. The group said he helped establish South Texas College in 1993 and served as a trustee for nearly three decades. Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) will receive the Institutional Catalyst Award. VIDA, founded in 1995, helps low-income, unemployed and underemployed residents pursue postsecondary education and workforce training. According to the organization, it served 1,065 people in the past year, with a 95% persistence rate and an 84% graduation rate. It estimates a return of $15.69 for every dollar invested.
Dr. Nina Lee Torkelson, a physician and 2000 TFA RGV alumna, will receive the Alumni Leadership Award. She began her career teaching fifth grade in Weslaco ISD. Ana D. González, the group's executive director, said proceeds from the gala will support recruitment, training and development of educational leaders.