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STC HVAC Students Volunteer Services to Aurora House

Six students from the South Texas College Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR) Program applied their knowledge and skills in a rewarding community effort for the Aurora House in Weslaco. Aurora House is a non-profit hospice house for the dying and is not affiliated or funded by any hospital or religious organization.

“I think it’s great that STC is giving back to the community in projects like this,” said Dr. Rafael Rodriguez, Founder of Aurora House and current Chairman of Board for the house. “This hospice residence is funded and run on community contributions alone and we always appreciate any help or donation of this type. We were very happy to hear that several STC students from the HVACR Program were interested in volunteering their services. Aurora House is free of charge to anyone and without the contributions and efforts of the community, and people with kind hearts like these STC students, we would not be able to serve the families that most need our services.”
     

The students’ contribution to the hospice house initially began as a personal project for HVACR instructor Rolando Noriega. He decided to make this an opportunity for his students to apply their skills in a workforce project while participating in community service. The student’s tasks included cleaning and servicing three A/C units, inspecting the units and cleaning the indoor and outdoor coils.

“The students also changed the filters and charged the A/C units properly by using manufacturer’s specifications,” added Noriega. “It was a great opportunity for the students to demonstrate their skills outside of the classroom. We believe strongly in giving back to the community and always encourage our students to do what they can to help others. We have found that it is not difficult for us to get the students to volunteer their services because they truly enjoy their work and using their skills to benefit others in the Valley.”

  
Six students from the South Texas College Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR) Program applied their knowledge and skills in a rewarding community effort for the Aurora House in Weslaco, Texas. Pictured from left (back) are Rolando Noriega, HVAC/R instructor, Manuel Garcia, Guadalupe Hernandez, HVAC/R program chair, Israel Luevano, (front) Jose Munoz, Josias Acha, and Simon Flores. Not pictured, Jose Luis Mireles.
 

The students’ work on this project inspired a personal contribution from Israel Luevano, HVACR night student. Luevano worked with his employer, Filters First of McAllen and Harlingen, to donate a year’s supply of filters for the three A/C units.

Aurora House welcomes the community to attend the Open House Celebration on June 20 at the Aurora House, 902 S. Airport Drive, Suite 4 in Weslaco. For more information on how to support the Aurora House with donations or volunteer services, please contact Dr. Rafael Rodriguez at (956) 969-8877 or log on to www.aurorahouse.org.

For more information on the STC HVACR Program please contact (956) 872-6133 or log on to www.southtexascollege.edu. 

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Last Updated June 20, 2007