Islander Legacies to be Honored at 2025 Homecoming Honors Banquet

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – They come from different backgrounds, different generations, and in some cases different countries — but they all have one thing in common, they’ve made a major Islander Impact.

Dr. Gerardo “Jerry” Flores ’02, Sandra Alvarez ’12, Dr. Jordan Thurston ’20, and the 2016 Women’s Tennis Team will be honored at this year’s Homecoming Honors Banquet during Islander Homecoming Week 2025 for their achievements during their time at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and their accomplishments since leaving the Island University.

“By honoring these incredible Islanders, we take a moment to acknowledge how the entire Islander community has helped grow the leaders of tomorrow,” said Elvia Aguilar ’17, TAMU-CC Executive Director of Alumni Engagement. “These awards honor the Island University’s proud legacy and champion the bright future ahead for this university and its graduates.”

Dr. Gerardo “Jerry” Flores ’02
Distinguished Alumnus

It’s a rare feat for a high school dropout to rise and eventually lead a workforce of over 50-thousand employees at one of the largest healthcare companies in the nation, but that is the journey of Gerardo “Jerry” Flores. His story begins in Laredo, Texas, where his family worked tirelessly to make ends meet — a work ethic that Flores embraced early on, taking a job in a restaurant as a teenager. He eventually made the difficult decision to drop out of high school and jump headfirst into the workforce. But it was an unexpected encounter with a simple can of jalapeños that would change the course of his life, setting him on a path that would lead him back to education and, ultimately, to extraordinary success.

“One day, while preparing for the lunch crowd, I cut my hand with the lid of a tin can of jalapeños,” Flores recounted. “I was taken to a local emergency department. While I waited for my hand to be sutured, a patient was brought into the room in full cardiac arrest. The ER staff was actively performing CPR as I watched in astonishment. I was immediately drawn to this heroic effort by the doctors and nurses, and I prayed for the patient’s recovery.”

That incident prompted Flores to get his GED. From there, he earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Laredo Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Flores would then make his way to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi where he earned a Master of Science in Nursing. He also earned a Doctorate in Nursing Administration from American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colorado.

While working his way through college, Flores also worked his way up the hospital ladder. He started as a nurse assistant at Mercy Hospital in Laredo. There, he would eventually become a registered nurse and surgical service director. He is credited with creating the first Cardio-Vascular Surgical and Neurosurgical Programs in Laredo.

Now Flores carries the title of Senior Vice President – Chief Nurse Executive for CHRISTUS Health System, which has health care facilities in the United States as well as Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. Of all the places education has taken Flores, he reflects on his time at TAMU-CC as a pivotal chapter in shaping who he is today.

“My experience at TAMU-CC motivated me to pursue a career in nursing leadership,” Flores said. “This journey and commitment to lifelong learning has resulted in being blessed with purpose and connection to worthwhile work and service to others.”  

Sandra Alvarez ’12
Outstanding Alumnus

A college student’s journey to the graduation stage can be long and winding, but it’s rarely one that begins after three decades in a successful career. That was the path of Sandra Alvarez, who spent over 30 years as a communications specialist with AT&T Texas before enrolling at the Island University.

“I graduated late in life because I didn’t believe that I needed a degree,” Alvarez said. “It was something that I didn’t think I could accomplish, and I didn’t have time because I was raising children. But once I graduated it made a world of difference.”

With encouragement from family and friends, Alvarez would earn a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Training and Development from TAMU-CC. With that degree in hand a new world of possibilities opened up for Alvarez. She first opened a consulting firm, Alvarez Business Consultants. As a registered lobbyist in the State of Texas, she has been able to provide various services for Fortune 500 companies, local businesses, cities, and counties.

In addition, she has helped build two family businesses with one of her three sons: Republic of Texas Concrete and Coating and Republic of Texas Foundation Repairs. Add in her volunteer work with organizations like the NAACP and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and it’s clear this grandmother of six has built a rich, fulfilling life. As her busy schedule continues, she can’t help but look back at the big impact her time at the Island University has had on her journey.   

“Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been instrumental in my life,” Alvarez said. “I encourage all students to continue their education and never stop, even if it is longer than you expected. A degree is a key to open a world of possibilities.”

Dr. Jordan Thurston ’20
Young Alumnus

Navigating the complexities of the business world can be a daunting task, but for Dr. Jordan Thurston, the challenge of that world combined with an unquenchable ambition led him down a road to success.

Thurston’s journey began in Santiago, Chile, where he was born before immigrating to the United States with his family as a young child. By 10th grade, he was working full time in the retail and financial industries, gaining firsthand insight into the fast-paced, often cutthroat world of finance.

His desire to excel in the business world would first take him first to the University of North Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. He then set sights on the Island University, where he earned his Master of Business Administration through the flexibility of its online degree program. Thurston’s academic journey would culminate with a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss School of Business and Management.   

Thurston is the founder of Evolve Like a Dragonfly, a career coaching business that also serves as the publishing arm for his debut book, “Walk Among the Dragonflies: How Leaders Streamline Efficiencies Through Process Improvement.” He also serves as a doctoral supervisor through the Swiss School of Business and Management and is the founder, president, and CEO of the Neopte Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission of providing purpose to youth from low-opportunity backgrounds with direction in pursuit of higher education. In addition, Thurston has advanced to Senior Vice President and Senior Audit Manager of the Retail Bank and Mortgage Technology Division at Citi.

But perhaps the biggest venture for this 31-year-old husband and girl dad is what he is doing for the next generation. He has established the Neopte Foundation Endowed Scholarship at TAMU-CC, with the goal of helping students from low-opportunity backgrounds lessen the financial barrier to entry for higher education and empowering students to reach their full potential.

“Through taking classes at TAMU-CC, it taught me to dig deeper into business topics to understand how to bridge the gap between theory and practice, while stretching me out of my comfort zone,” Thurston said. “That’s the opportunity I want to foster for others. I want them to chase their dreams and leave an impact.” 

2016 Women’s Tennis Team
Hall of Honor

Chasing perfection can be a fool’s errand — achievable in theory, but it escapes the grasp of most. That is unless you are the 2016 Islanders Women’s Tennis Team. That team, composed of eight dedicated players, a demanding but compassionate coach, and a hardworking staff, would be the first Islanders Athletics program to go undefeated during the regular season and Southland tournament. They would head into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 24-0.

“This team was a family, and they walked the walk,” Islanders Women’s Tennis Head Coach Steve Moore said. “They were a special group of high character people. With this team, every player poured their whole heart into being a family.”

That year, Moore would be named Southland Conference Coach of the Year for the 10th consecutive season, while the team hauled in eight other Southland Conference Awards. The 2016 team also posted the best record in the history of the conference.

Among the players on that team was Celia Rodriguez ’17, ’20, who still holds the record for most wins in the history of the program.

“I feel so proud for our team being inducted into the Islanders Athletics Hall of Honor,” Rodriguez said. “What made the team so special was the connection that we had between players and coaches. These are people who will always have a special place in my heart.”

Team members include:

• Alexandra Belle
• Hortense Boscher ’18
• Jelena Dzinic ’18
• Kerry Galhos ’17
• Maider Martin ’16
• Celia Rodriguez ’17, ’20
• Marina Vicens Miquel ’20, ’24
• Judit Vives ’17

The Homecoming Honors Banquet will be held on Friday, Feb. 28, at the University Center, Anchor Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program and dinner begin at 7 p.m. Individual tickets or tables of eight can be purchased here.