LEAD Forward at the 2026 Fall Leadership Workshop
More than 350 students. Thirteen RGV LEAD Member School Districts. One shared purpose: helping young people see the future they can lead, build, and shape.
RGV LEAD was proud to host one of its largest student leadership workshops to date at the October 6 Fall Leadership Workshop at the Mission Event Center. The 2026 Fall Leadership Workshop brought students together for a day centered on leadership, career exploration, industry connection, and service.
The theme, LEAD Forward: Empowering Today’s Students. Building Tomorrow’s Workforce, captured the heart of the event. Students arrived with declared Programs of Study, and they had the chance to connect those interests with real opportunities, real career pathways, and real people working in the fields they may one day enter.
A milestone for student leadership and career alignment
The strong turnout reflected the growing need for student-centered career learning across the Rio Grande Valley. With over 350 students registered and representation from 13 Member School Districts, the workshop marked a meaningful step in RGV LEAD’s continued work to support school districts through workforce development and career alignment.
Events like this matter because students need more than information about future careers. They need experiences that help them connect their choices today with their options tomorrow.
At the workshop, students had room to ask questions, learn from professionals, meet peers from other districts, and think about how their Programs of Study can lead to meaningful careers. Those moments can help students build confidence, set goals, and picture themselves in places they may not have imagined before.
That is the purpose behind LEAD Forward at the 2026 Fall Leadership Workshop: to create a space where leadership and workforce readiness meet in practical, personal ways.
Industry partners helped bring career pathways to life
RGV LEAD was proud to welcome industry partners whose work aligned with the students’ declared Programs of Study. Their presence added real value to the day.
For students, it is one thing to read about a career pathway. It is another to speak with someone connected to that field, hear what the work looks like, and understand what skills and habits matter most.
These connections helped students explore questions such as:
What does this career field look like after graduation?
What training, certifications, or education may be needed?
What skills do employers value?
How can a Program of Study lead to real career options?
What kind of leadership does the workplace need?
Those conversations support a larger goal. RGV LEAD continues to help bridge the space between education and economic development so that students, schools, and industry partners can grow together.
The participation of industry partners also reminded students that their future workforce community is not far away. It is right here, ready to guide, support, and welcome them as they prepare for what comes next.
Sponsors and partners made the day possible
A workshop of this size takes planning, resources, and people who believe in the mission. RGV LEAD extends sincere gratitude to PNC Bank for its generous sponsorship of the Fall Leadership Workshop.
Support from sponsors helps create the kind of student experience that is memorable, organized, and meaningful. It allows RGV LEAD to bring students, educators, volunteers, partners, and presenters together with a shared focus on opportunity.
RGV LEAD is also grateful for the in-kind sponsors who helped make the event a success. Their contributions supported the many details that make a large student event work well, from preparation to execution.
Every sponsor and partner played a part in helping students feel seen, supported, and connected to their future.
RGV LEAD board members showed strong support
RGV LEAD staff were honored by the presence and support of board members who joined the October 6 Fall Leadership Workshop at the Mission Event Center.
Their attendance reflected a shared commitment to the organization’s growth, mission, and service to students across the region. It also meant a great deal to the staff, volunteers, partners, and sponsors who helped bring the workshop to life.
RGV LEAD extends a special thank-you to:
Board President Eloy Garza
Board Vice President Dr. Esmeralda Adame
Executive Board Member Jonathan Medina
Executive Board Member Dr. Marisol Rocha
Board Member Frank Alamaraz
Their support helped set the tone for a day focused on student success and regional workforce development.
A special note of gratitude goes to Jonathan Medina, RGV LEAD Executive Board Member and America’s #1 Youth Motivational Speaker. His inspiring story, servant leadership, and extraordinary talent played a special role in making this event memorable for students and Member School Districts.
Jonathan’s message connected with students because it came from a place of purpose and service. His time, passion, and commitment helped make the workshop more than an event. It became an experience students could carry with them.
RGV LEAD is truly grateful to have him as part of the team.
The RGV LEAD team led with heart
Behind every successful event is a team that cares about the details and the people being served.
RGV LEAD extends heartfelt appreciation to Project Coordinator Dr. Diana Ybanez, Marketing Coordinator Intern Fernanda Gomez, and the amazing volunteers, Vangela and Mia, for their hard work, dedication, and attention to detail.
Their commitment helped ensure the Fall Leadership Workshop reflected the mission and values of RGV LEAD. From planning to preparation to the day-of experience, their work helped create a welcoming and well-organized event for students, partners, sponsors, and school districts.
That kind of service matters. It shapes how students experience the day. It helps partners feel connected. It allows the mission to show up in every detail.
RGV LEAD is grateful for a team that leads with heart, works with care, and remains committed to serving students across the region.
Moving forward together
The 2026 Fall Leadership Workshop was a powerful reminder of what can happen when schools, sponsors, industry partners, board members, staff, and volunteers come together around students.
More than 350 students had the chance to explore careers, grow as leaders, and connect their Programs of Study with future opportunities. That is the work of RGV LEAD, and it continues through every partnership, every district relationship, and every student experience.
Together, we are empowering today’s students and building tomorrow’s workforce.
Maricela “Mari” De Leon, MPA, CPM
Executive Director
Rio Grande Valley Linking Economic and Academic Development