My name is Laurencio Velazquez Jr. from Mount Vernon, TX, my hometown. While attending MVHS, I was selected as a recipient of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club Motivational Scholarship to Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC). I attended NTCC while beginning my career at a local bank. Over time, I pursued a Business Administration degree and graduated from Texas A&M University–Texarkana with my BBA, after transferring from NTCC with an Associate’s and a Financial Accounting certification. Starting as a teller, I worked my way up to AVP/Location President in Pittsburg, TX. I later chose to step away from banking to prioritize my family, which led me to my current role as a College Navigator with NTCC—helping students find their path just as I once did. Working in education has opened my eyes to the many moving pieces behind the scenes, shown me the value of a supportive workplace, and inspired me to continue pursuing higher education and new opportunities. I’m grateful for the journey that shaped both my career and education. I’m a proud father of a toddler who keeps me young, honored to share life with my wife who accepts & loves me fully, and I enjoy playing cornhole competitively.