UP funds trade school expansion in Texas

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 6/16/2022 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Southwest Texas Junior College students huddle around the contribution check from UP. Behind the check are, from left, Ken Kuwamura (in light blue), UP manager of talent acquisition; Raquel Espinoza, UP senior director of public affairs; Esmerelda Arreola, the college's Diesel Technology Program lab assistant; Texas State Rep. Eddie Morales and his wife Helen Morales; and Tom Blevins, UP superintendent of train operations. Photo – up.com

Union Pacific Railroad has partnered with Southwest Texas Junior College to expand the school's Diesel Technology Program in Eagle Pass, Texas.

UP contributed $380,000 to help the college pay for a 2,100-square-foot addition to the diesel technology training facility, as well as the purchase of hands-on training equipment.

The expansion will enable the college to increase student enrollment in the diesel tech program by 40%, nearly doubling the 30 students the program currently supports, UP officials said in the railroad's Inside Track newsletter.

Spearheading the Class I's involvement is Raquel Espinoza, senior director of public affairs. Students graduating from the program will be equipped with skills that would make them a good fit for the UP team, she said.

The financial contribution comes from UP's Community Ties Giving program. The building expansion is expected to be completed in August 2023.