Icons of the Arts Gala

Joe Arciniega is a former technology executive who returned his family to Laredo after 27 years in Los Angeles and Seattle where he was Chief Operating Officer for an Atari subsidiary, President of an Internet “dotcom” through its IPO, and a Partner-level executive and General Manager for Microsoft Corporation at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Arciniega is currently Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association of San Antonio and South Texas, and 2nd Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo. A contributing writer for Cream City Magazine, he is Chief Operating Officer and Partner for El Bufalo Enterprises, with business interests in Laredo, San Antonio and Lytle.

Named in January 2018 by the Laredo Morning Times as Laredoan of the Year for 2017 for his services to the Alzheimer’s Association and other nonprofits, as well as for his far reaching impact on the arts in Laredo, Arciniega was also a 2018 recipient of the Tejano Achiever Award, a 2013 recipient of Laredo’s Hall of Fame Award for Leadership Excellence in Humanity and Philanthropy, a Volunteer of the Year nominee for the 2013 Jefferson Award, and he was named a Mustang Legend by JW Nixon High School in 2012.

Joe Arciniega has been a guest speaker and panelist for the Hispanic and Black Congressional Caucuses in Washington D.C. on access to technology for underserved communities and other minority issues, serving on Brain Trusts for U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) and former U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA). He has presented before government officials in Japan, China, Germany, and the UK, as well as in Silicon Valley for the Rainbow PUSH Conference with Jesse Jackson, and in Alabama for the televised Newsweek/MSNBC Birmingham Summit on Diversity with Brian Williams. He was also a member of the Chicago United Leadership Forum.

Locally, Arciniega delivered the Commencement Address for the May 2010 Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Graduation Ceremonies, as well as for the 2013 Leadership Laredo graduates. He presents leadership seminars at TAMIU, and has served as special initiatives advisor for high school districts in Texas, California and Washington. Arciniega is Co-Founder and former Producing Artistic Director for Laredo Theater Guild International, where he produced twenty productions over five seasons, appearing in some of them as an actor.

Arciniega is married to his childhood sweetheart and they have four grown children and a grandson.

Teena Beckelhymer Arciniega, a native Laredoan, earned a dual degree in English and Communications from Boston College where she graduated magna cum laude. She worked at Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company in Boston for 10 years before moving to Seattle to work at Microsoft Press. She then took a long hiatus to raise her children-and dote on her husband Joe! She returned to Laredo in 2005 and is currently an AP English teacher at the United Engineering and Technology Magnet. Teena was a charter member of Laredo Theater Guild, which led to LTGI, where she then served on the Board of Directors for seven years. During this time, Teena sparked LTGI’s Class on Stage concept by challenging her husband Joe, then Artistic Director for LTGI, to produce content directly relevant to the literary studies of her junior English students that would impact their learning and retention. The program was developed and expanded and enters its seventh year. Teena was also the Costumer for many of the iconic LTGI productions, including “The Sound of Music,” “Annie,” “Cinderella,” and “Hairspray” among others. She also costumed two LTGI productions while starring in them as Eleanor of Aquitaine in “The Lion In Winter,” and as Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth.” Teena is currently a board member of the Society of Martha Washington, and was Guest Director and Narrator for the 2013 Colonial Pageant. She and her husband Joe have four children and one grandson, so far.

A Native of Corpus Christi, Texas Mary Grace Galvan-Carroll is a founding member of Laredo Musical Theater International (now Laredo Theater Guild International), together with Sammy Johnson and her husband Vernon H. Carroll. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The University of Miami, a Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi/Del Mar College.

Mary Grace began her musical theater career at Corpus Christi’s Harbor Playhouse, assisting with costumes and stage properties, and playing orchestral piano for The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Annie and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. During that time she compiled background music for W.E Smith’s The Drunkard; or The Fallen Saved, and composed original incidental music for William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

While in Laredo, Mary Grace has provided in musical support for the following productions: The King and I, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Fame!, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Oliver!, Beauty and The Beast, The Wiz, Annie, Cinderella, Hairspray, Shrek, Tommy, and In The Heights. She also composed original incidental music for a Class On Stage production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She coordinated costume designs for Oliver, Beauty and the Beast, Steel Magnolias, and The Glass Menagerie.

Mary Grace is currently the Director of Piano Studies at The Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts. She served on the Texas Education Agency’s textbook review panel (Music) and the revision committee for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (Music). She advocates for the arts community at the state level in her work with Texans for the Arts, the sole legislative representative for the arts in Texas.

Mary Grace looks forward to continuing opportunities to meet and share enthusiastic collaborations with talented students, fellow artists and community members. Her children, Patrick and Kathryn are both veteran performers and have appeared in numerous LTGI productions.

Vernon Carroll is a founder and President Emeritus of Laredo Theater Guild International. He has an undergraduate and master’s degree in theatre from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). Mr. Carroll began his teaching career at Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio, then went to Louisiana State University. While studying at LSU, he joined the faculty as scenic designer and technical director. As an instructor at LSU, he received an award from the American College Theatre Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for the set of Juno and the Paycock. Mr. Carroll then went to Appalachian State University as director of Technical Theatre and Producing Director of the Appalachian Young People’s Theatre, then spent five seasons as a scenic and lighting designer at Theatre Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. He then moved to Northwestern State University of Louisiana, at Natchitoches, where he was director of design and technical theatre. In 1994, Mr. Carroll came home to Texas, where he is Dean of Theatre at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts (Winner of the 2019 Texas Medal of Arts for Education). At VMT, Mr. Carroll directed You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the VMT Summer Theatre Project. Shows he directed for LMTI and LTGI summer musicals include: Fame, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver, The Wiz, The Sound of Music, Annie, Doubt, Steel Magnolias, Agnes of God, Hairspray, and Shrek. For Class On Stage, he directed: The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Crucible, Bless Me, Ultima, and The Glass Menagerie. When not directing, he serves as the Advisory Director for LTGI and can sometimes be found onstage, playing such roles as: President Hochstader in The Best Man, President Roosevelt in Annie or Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady. He has worked on over three hundred productions. When asked: “What is your favorite show?” He will answer: “The one I’m working on now!” Vernon is married to Dr. Mary Grace Carroll, Director of Piano Studies at VMT. They have two children: Patrick and Kathryn.

Mrs. Maria Eugenia “Jeannie” Lopez, 88 entered God’s heavenly kingdom on July 4, 2017.

It was 1929, and the Depression was at its height; Laredo had little to offer by way of jobs, and Jeannie’s parents soon became aware of her pending arrival. They decided to move to Homestead, Pennsylvania where Jeannie’s father joined his brothers working at Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation. Jeannie’s family lived in a neighborhood that catered to migrants from such countries as Czechoslovakia, Russia, and Lithuania. Although necessity is the mother of invention, it is also the mother of survival. Part of that survival included learning a new language. Jeannie’s father, being from Laredo was bilingual, but her mother, a talented seamstress from Mexico, only knew a smattering of English, which she acquired from her bilingual-speaking customers. Jeannie’s mother made her speak Spanish at home, always reminding her, "Que no se te olvide; tu eres Mexicana." She was very proud of being Mexican and instilled that pride in Jeannie. Even without formal education, Jeannie’s mother was very smart and creative. Her "a mi se me hace" usually ended with "te dije."

Jeannie credited her parents for any good qualities she may have had. Her mother taught her to sing, to recite poetry, and got her violin lessons. Any time her parents had company, she always had to perform for their guests. Because of the frequent performance opportunities, Jeannie admitted that she didn’t know what "stage fright" was. Growing up in Pennsylvania was a happy time, but Jeannie’s family yearned for anything Mexican; and although they eventually found a Mexican neighborhood and quickly made friends, there were no Mexican movies or Mexican restaurants. Jeannie said she would scan the credits after any movie she saw hoping to see a Mexican name. But no, that never happened. Once in a great while, there was a beautiful Mexican comedienne, Lupe Velez who appeared in short movies. What a treat that was for Jeannie. She yearned to see a movie with Mexican actors, but that never happened during this time of her life. In 2014, when Alfonso Cuar6n, the Mexican director won Best Director for" Gravity in the Academy Awards, Jeannie cried she was so excited. She wanted to write and thank him for making one of her dreams come true.

When Jeannie’s family returned to Laredo in 1945, due to her father's declining health, Jeannie was in culture shock! There were Mexicans working in banks! There were Mexican teachers and Mexican doctors. She couldn't believe her eyes. She was in Heaven. Jeannie graduated from Martin High School in 1948, began working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, married and was blessed with three incredible sons, Oscar, Guillermo and Carlos and later, two beautiful granddaughters, Lauren and Erinn and daughter-in-law Elsa. While working for Southwestern Bell, Jeannie began taking night classes at Laredo Junior College. She had no idea how she was going to finish her degree because LJC was, and continues to be a two-year college. But everything worked out the year she earned her Associates Degree. Laredo State University opened, and her class was the first class to enter Laredo State University, where she eventually graduated cum laude with a degree in education. She had earned the right to be called "Ma'am." Jeannie once said that the teaching students were a very close-knit group who laughed about how proud they were to be called "Ma’am’s" and "Sirs". Jeannie later went back and got a Bilingual Certificate, a GT Certificate, and that all important Theatre Certificate.

Theatre had always been a part of Jeannie’s life. Even in high school at Martin she was involved in plays. However, her acting "career" began when she was a 6 year-old first grader at Third Avenue Elementary School in Homestead where she was cast as the queen in Snow White. Jeannie said it wasn't any talent that got her the part; it was her hair. Her teacher thought the queen should have long, black hair, and Jeannie was the only one with hair like that in a classroom full of gueritos. Jeannie’s connection with Laredo Little Theatre was extensive and spanned over 50 years. She was in over 30 productions as an actor or director. About 27 years ago, Laredo Little Theater started producing children's plays during the summer, and that idea has proven quite successful. Introducing children to theatre was one of the most gratifying experiences for her. As a director, Jeannie discovered new talent and what a "high" that was for her! The kids found out that learning could be fun, but most importantly, they found out that they were important and good at something. This experience was life-changing for both Jeannie and her young actors and worth all the time and effort involved.

Being in the classroom was no different. Her goal in teaching was always to highlight students' skills and talents. While teaching at Martin High School, Jeannie was UIL Prose and Poetry Sponsor and participated in UIL competition events. During the years 1996 to 2002, Jeannie compiled, edited and produced" Mosaic"-- a compilation of student writings - short stories, poetry and art work. The kids were so impressed to see their work in a book. During the Halloween season, Jeannie taught her students to write Mexican calaveras in English. These were also put into a booklet, aptly named "Calaveras". A segment about how Jeannie taught creative language was published in an English textbook by Glenco/McGraw Hill Publisher in 1999. In 2001, while at Martin High, Jeannie was named L.I.S.D. Teacher of the Year. On May 22, 2002, Jeannie was selected as a Semi-Finalist during the preliminary judging of the 2002 HEB Excellence in Teaching Awards. That year Jeannie was also inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame of the Laredo Commission for Women. She also received a Heritage Award from the Webb County Heritage Foundation, and was named the Dama Award Recipient from Las Damas de la Cultura de Oro. How proud she was to receive this honor from an organization that works so hard to maintain Mexican ethnicity. In 2003 Sames Motor Company awarded Jeannie the Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Our Youth.

From 2005 through 2010, while teaching at St. Augustine, Jeannie compiled, edited and produced seniors' Farewell Speeches, a collection of seniors' farewell thoughts. In 2008 while her St. Augustine, theatre arts class performed The Wall in honor of Veterans' Day. As part of the Chicano Writers Group Jeannie’s original musical El Mero Mero was one of three plays selected by Dr. Juan Maldonado, LCC President to be performed during the 2010 convocation on January 4, 2010. This same play was one of two plays selected to be performed in San Antonio at the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education Conference. On March 26, 2010, Jeannie was named Education Tiger Legend "Golden Mentor" Class of 1948.

Furthermore, Jeannie was active in the community as a member of the Laredo Community College Symphony, as a violinist with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, The Laredo Little Theatre, The Southwestern Bell Pioneers, The Elysian Social Club, Tuesday Music & Literature Club, the Genealogical Society, an Honorable Member of the Laredo Woman’s City Club as well as a member of the Blessed Sacrament Altar Society where she would never miss an event.

Jeannie Lopez—actor, director, teacher, musician, writer, and friend. Her legacy will never be forgotten. Thank you, Jeannie! We miss you!

Born and raised in Laredo, Julia Vera attended public school with teachers who she describes as “wonderful and exciting” and who were supportive of her gifts. The oldest of 14 children, she learned responsibility at a very young age. She had many cousins that were like brothers and sisters and many mothers, including her aunts and grandmother. She has always loved movies, and when she and her family first saw television it became an addiction. She married a local boy with whom she had five children. In 1965 their family moved to Los Angeles, and she loved it. As her children grew, Julia asked herself what she wanted to do when the kids grew up and left. Her response was, “Oh yeah, I wanted to become an actress.” At age 46 she joined an acting class where an agent saw her and gave her a contract. She began her acting career doing many commercials and TV appearances. IMDB.COM lists 102 credits for her including Speed with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, The Ridiculous 6 with Adam Sandler, and Real Women Have Curves. She is the voice of Luisa in the Daytime Emmy Award-winning Elena of Avalor on the Disney Channel. She has traveled for work to places she could not imagine. To quote Julia, “I plan to work ‘til I drop dead. I just love it.”

Brother Robert Warren had the great luck to have been involved with theatre from childhood! The son of an actress mother and a jazz musician father, some aspects of music and theatre were in the cards from birth. He came to Laredo in 1971 to teach at St. Joseph’s Academy and started theatre there with Man of La Mancha. Not too many years lapsed before the Laredo Little Theatre’s Sam Johnson offered to produce the same show for the LLT. After St. Joseph’s closed in 1973, he came back to Laredo after some time working in Dallas to teach at San Augustine from 1975-77. And the plays started again. He also worked with the LCC Campus Ministry from 1987-97 and at Christ the King Church from 1998-2000. Brother Bob has also served the Laredo Community as Past President of the Laredo Little Theatre, CM Productions, and LITE Productions.

Between shows at Laredo Community College and the beginnings of the LITE theatre program, there was very little time in those years without a show that Warren either performed or directed. Some of Bob’s directing highlights include productions of Fiddler On The Roof, Whose Life is it Anyway?, Chapter 2, Once On This Island, The Diary Of Anne Frank, and Into the Woods. As an actor, Brother Bob performed in the Leonard Thurman directed production of The Mousetrap, playing the character of Sergeant Trotter, premiering at the LCC Arena Theatre; the company was invited to perform the production in Mexico City in the spring of 1977.

Of all the many places where theatre has been a part of his life, Laredo is by far his home.