Influenced by a Personal Story Alumnus Gives to Expand ESL Program at USTMAX Center and Waive Cost

Paul Vallhonrat ’95 in Economics speaks perfect English. Always has. But he is starkly aware of how a lack of English led his Cuban immigrant grandparents and great aunts to struggle when they left everything behind and fled to America in 1963 after the revolution. Being able to learn and speak English became very important to his family. Decades later, when his elderly parents lived in the Conroe area and dealt with failing health, he came to know their Spanish-speaking housekeeper and recognized that this very dear caregiver was limited in the U.S. by not learning English.