The City of Laredo has a beautiful new landmark near the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, thanks to the creativity and craftsmanship of United South High School students.
City officials contacted Construction Technology teacher Carlos Lozano in October to inquire whether his students could create such artwork. The partnership was formalized, and students have spent the last two months working diligently to make the Laredo letters happen. The colorful painted letters resemble letters outside major cities in Mexico.
Joel Vazquez, assistant director for the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he was especially proud of the work the students did.
“I am so happy, so excited, especially since I am an alumnus from United South High School. Knowing that it was students from our high school, that it’s part of my life. They did a wonderful job, an extraordinary job. It’s a landmark,” Vazquez said.
The letters, four feet tall and four feet wide, will be visible to the 9,000 daily crossers who walk to and from Laredo at Bridge I. Both USHS and city officials called it a masterpiece.
“I received an email from the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, and as soon as I saw the email, I got excited and agreed to it. Talking with (Vazquez), we started talking about the font we wanted to use,” Lozano said.
His two welding students, graduating seniors Gilberto Trevino and Alejandro Gamboa, welded the majority of the project.
“Our job, my job, was to weld the letters around and grind them so they can be smooth around the edges,” said Trevino. “It’s fun and that makes it worth it. It’s a challenge to make you a better welder. My dream is to become a welder so this gives me experience and I am thankful to the teacher.”
Gamboa, who wants to pursue architecture or engineering, loved welding the project.
“I loved it because later on down in life, I can take my kids, my family and show them that I worked on this. I helped build it. I am grateful to Mr. Lozano for letting us work on it,” Gamboa said.
Both students admired their teacher, saying that he also worked long hours on the letters.
“I am grateful he taught us how to do it,” Trevino said. “He had patience with us because Lord knows we are not the best welders, but we try our hardest and he gives us a lot of advice.”
Lozano said the students learned important lessons as they worked on the project.
“The students have learned time management, not to procrastinate and a little bit of discipline. They also learned responsibility, and something like this will be around for years to come,” Lozano said. “It is something significant for them.”
Other students involved in the project:
To help sand, primer, and paint the letters we had the following students:
James Beason, Sergio Valdes, Javier Resendez, Troy Moncivais, Arturo Virgen, and Abraham Jaime.
To help paint the art designs we had the following students:
Yoseline Garcia, Alan Nguyen, Brandon Nguyen, Colleen Nguyen, Luis Duque, Sophie Lopez, and Connie Becerra.
Lozano said that students are working on Phase II of the project, which will be unveiled in the fall. The new letters will be about 5 feet tall. The location of the letters has not been determined yet.
L-R Carlos Lozano, USHS Construction Technology teacher, Alejandro Gamboa and Gilbert Trevino working on the letters earlier this year
USHS student working on the letters
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