Month: March 2026

Campus, Student Spotlight

Vocal Vikings’ team captain continues winning streak

Pearl Adams

Del Mar College Vocal Vikings continue to find success at multiple speech and debate tournaments, led by team captain Elyda Vasquez, who has brought back trophies from every tournament she has attended since the fall semester.   In the Fall, Vasquez won second place in Poetry and Prose at the TIFA competition and first place at Nations in Programmed Oral Interpretation (POI) at the Off-Broadway Speech Tournament in New York. Vasquez has been competing in speech and debate competitions since the seventh grade.  Winning first place in five competitions along with second in another five within her history on the…

Community, Sports

Manny Iwabuchi and the rise of professional soccer in Corpus Christi

Lucio Silva

For Manny Iwabuchi, the journey to professional soccer was never a straight line. The Corpus Christi native who grew up dreaming of playing professionally found a different path — one that led him from the sidelines of local high school fields to the coaching staff of Corpus Christi FC’s historic first professional season in USL League One. As the club’s assistant coach and Director of Coaching Academy, Iwabuchi now plays a dual role in shaping the present and future of soccer in South Texas. “It’s very validating for me,” he said.  “To see a natural progression here in the area…

Column, Sports

Venezuela’s road to victory at Worlds Baseball Classic

Isabella Skinner

The World Baseball Classic opened  March 6 and ended March 17 in Miami, Florida, with Team Venezuela taking the win 3-2 against Team USA. The win marked Venezuela’s first win at the Classic and held symbolic meaning for the players who celebrated the win by singing their national anthem, “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo.” The WBC began in 2006 and has been held roughly every three to four years since then (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2026). It has often been compared to the World Cup in soccer, and is used to celebrate national pride and global unity. The players…

Community, Sports

Spring baseball just around the corner for the Corpus Christi Hooks

Isaiah Elizondo

The Corpus Christi Hooks begin their spring season on April 2. The Hooks will play a 138-game season with half of their games taking place at home in Whataburger Field, giving fans the opportunity to see the new era of talent for the Houston Astros. As a Double-A affiliate competing in the South Division of the Texas League, the Corpus Christi Hooks face competition across Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Last season the Hooks finished last in their division with the worst record in the Texas League (48-89). Despite last season’s struggles, the organization remains optimistic under second-year manager Ricky Rivera.…

Community, Texas

Beads on the beach : Barefoot Mardi Gras parade draws big crowds

Danielle Dews

Crowds packed the roads, dressed head to toe in purple, gold, and green, as vibrant floats rolled across the sand on North Padre Island.  Music filled the air, the sun shining brightly overhead, and the atmosphere buzzed with energy and excitement.  At Barefoot Mardi Gras, the beach turns into a celebration parade that brings many to the island.  This year’s Barefoot Mardi Gras drew an estimated 15,000 spectators, ranging from local Corpus Christi residents to out-of-town visitors, according to event representative Stephanie Hesch. Former resident Abigayle Millette attended the event with her friends and family for her third year.  “It’s…

Opinions

Resilience is at heart of selling print advertising

Amber Davis

Working in advertising for a news organization is a peculiar position to hold. You are part of something people say they don’t trust, don’t like, or don’t need anymore, while simultaneously consuming it, quoting it, screen-shotting it, arguing about it, and trying to replicate it on their own platforms. The news is one of the most loved and most criticized institutions in any community. It always has been. And advertising within it carries the same contradiction. I hear it often: “Print is expensive.” “Print is outdated.” “Print doesn’t work anymore.” And yet, here we are. Print advertising has survived radio,…

Art, Campus, Staff

The Siren collaborative art installation attracts student creatives

Alondra Alonzo

The Siren literary and art magazine is accepting submissions through May 13. The theme for the 2026 magazine is NEO. NEO blends aspects of 1980s expressionist movement and graffiti street art in the European vineyard/countryside with accents of bright colors, urban, nature, and travel. Part of the art featured in the magazine design will incorporate an interactive art project the Siren staff hosted March 16. Students were invited to graffiti a pink spray-painted mannequin with paint, markers, stickers and other materials. “We held an art installation in the Harvin Center for students to come by and contribute to. We wanted…

Community

Covering President Trump as a student journalist

Arwen Scafidi

After a stunned moment, I realized I had been struck by a full water bottle thrown from a group of protesters shouting behind a line of Texas state troopers.  The bottle hit the outer corner of my eye as I exited the Port of Corpus Christi following President Donald J. Trump’s visit, bringing an abrupt and unexpected end to an afternoon marked by heightened security, political tension and one of the most surreal reporting experiences I have had so far as a student journalist. The chants had been growing louder as attendees began leaving the venue. Protesters gathered along the…

Community

Corpus Christi legend Ronnie Mathis loses battle to cancer

Victor Herrera

Ronnie “Pointy Boots” Mathis, a Corpus Christi icon known for his stylish strolls around town in long-toed boots and custom suits, died March 19 at 70.  Mathis died surrounded by loved ones after a battle with Stage 4 prostate cancer.  Known as a positive force throughout the city and his life, Mathis was a cultural legend with grand cowboy hats, multi-colored suits, and a bright personality to match the courage of his ensemble. Inspired in part by his twin brother Donnie Mathis, who sports similar attire only without the pair of pointy boots, Mathis had cultivated his memorable flair along…

Community

Inclusive Easter egg hunt encourages accessible celebrations

Arwen Scafidi

Families in the Coastal Bend have the chance to celebrate Easter in an environment intentionally designed to be welcoming, supportive and inclusive. The first annual Inclusive Easter Egg Hunt & Party aims to provide children of all abilities with a space where they can participate comfortably and enjoy the holiday alongside their families and community. The event is hosted by the South Texas Neurodiversity Association in partnership with Choice Living Community and will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at Choice Living Community, 3875 S. Staples St., Building 4. Created by a group of local mothers and community advocates,…