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Pharr and PSJA ISD mark graduation of 10 IT interns from Methodist Healthcare Ministries grant; city hires one graduate
Summary
Ten PSJA ISD students completed a paid internship and cybersecurity certificate in partnership with the City of Pharr, Methodist Healthcare Ministries Foundation and South Texas College. The city presented certificates and laptops; one intern has been offered a full‑time help-desk position beginning in June.
PHARR, Texas — The City of Pharr, partnering with PSJA Independent School District and Methodist Healthcare Ministries Foundation, recognized 10 high-school students May 19 who completed a paid internship and a cybersecurity-certificate program through South Texas College.
The city’s information-technology department presented certificates and awarded laptops to the graduating cohort, which city staff said was funded through a grant from the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Foundation. The program places paid interns with city departments; staff said the program can fund up to 15 paid interns in a cohort.
PSJA staff and city officials praised the partnership as an educational pathway intended to give students workforce experience and local employment opportunities. Cynthia Garza Reyes, assistant city manager, described the program as an outgrowth of the city’s broadband project and said the commission’s intent was both to extend broadband access and create career pathways for local students.
Program details and outcomes
- Ten students were recognized as graduating from the internship and cybersecurity-certificate track (the transcript lists students including Diego Naranco; Orlando Robles; Miguel Mendez; Miguel Aviles; Jose Cantu; Gavin Trevino; Hector Arriaga; Damien Rivera; Jesus Serna; Jose Serna).
- Students completed digital-navigator and digital-literacy courses and also earned cybersecurity training through South Texas College as part of dual-credit coursework.
- Students received certificates and new laptops as part of the city’s digital-navigator recognition.
- The city announced that Orlando Robles applied for and will begin a full-time position with the city in June as a help-desk specialist.
City staff said the internship is a model the city hopes to expand; the program provides paid work experience, dual‑credit or certificate training, and direct exposure to municipal operations. The presentation included congratulations from the mayor and commissioners and an invitation for residents to visit a brief post-meeting reception.
