Jimmy Carter, a dual enrollment criminal justice student, attended the Rio Grande Valley District Attorneys Coalition Regional Press Conference and Domestic Violence Awareness Event on October 17. The event, hosted at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), allowed students to engage with legal professionals and hear firsthand accounts related to domestic violence.

Criminal Justice instructor Gilberto Salinas expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, noting, “It was great that the students got to hear from Terry Palacios, Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney; Luis Saenz, Cameron County District Attorney; Annette Hinojosa, Willacy County District Attorney; and Allen Ramirez, Starr County District Attorney, as well as a domestic violence survivor.”

The press conference and awareness event are part of ongoing efforts by the Rio Grande Valley District Attorneys Coalition to raise awareness about domestic violence and its lasting effects on the community.

Ivan Silva serves as the advisor for RedGold News Student Publications, where he mentors student journalists and oversees all aspects of the publication. In addition to his work with RGN, Silva teaches Dual Enrollment courses in Speech Communication and Interpersonal Communication, helping students bridge the gap between high school and college-level academics.

He is also an adjunct instructor at South Texas College (STC), where he brings his expertise in communication studies into higher education classrooms. On campus, Silva is actively involved as the UIL Coordinator and UIL Journalism Coach, guiding students to success in academic competitions at the district, regional, and state levels.

Through his combined roles as Journalism Advisor, RGN Advisor, and educator, Silva is dedicated to fostering student voice, leadership, and excellence in communication, both in print and beyond.