MERCEDES – More than 29 years ago, the South Texas Independent School District was born from his idea.

Many were present as they honored former Rio Grande Valley Congressman Ruben Hinojosa with the ribbon cutting of a new innovation lab named after him.

It was in 1989 that South Texas ISD was founded. A public magnet school for junior and senior students wanting careers in science, technology and engineering.

Hinojosa lobbied the Texas legislature after he had visited a campus in Houston and asked, why can’t the Valley have this?

Watch the full segment of Rick Diaz’s Con Mi Gente.