At El Paso Community College (EPCC), a legacy spans the decades with the Garcia family, where mother and daughter have carved their place in the heart of the sign language interpreting community. Adriana Garcia, joining EPCC's ranks in 1990, switched tracks from automotive studies to sign language interpreting after a serendipitous encounter with a Deaf student, as reported by EPCC News. This chance meeting inspired a journey of advocacy and service that would not only see her become a veteran of commencement ceremonies but would also draw her daughter, Victoria, into the fold.
Victoria Garcia, who grew up curious about the language her mother used to communicate, got her start at EPCC as a note-taker before attending ASL classes. As her passion blossomed, she found her calling in interpreting. Telling EPCC News about her early exposure to sign language and the Deaf community, she said, “Growing up, I was always curious about what my mom was saying when she communicated in sign language.” For the past years, her mother, interpreting commencement ceremonies as early as 1995, and she, starting in 2016, have become a familiar face for EPCC's graduating classes, blurring the lines between professional duty and familial bond.
Together, Adriana and Victoria have brought to the stage a unique dynamic. They've collaborated on interpreting events, and it has resonated with the community. Adriana, offering her sentiments to EPCC News, shared, “I told Valle Verde Dean Dr. Myshie Pagel that this was positive for the community. This is what it's all about – staying in El Paso and representing our community.” Their teamwork extended beyond local events to international ones, like the trilingual interpreting seminar they performed in Guatemala.
With Adriana's decision to retire on July 31, 2025, after a 35-year tenure comes a shift in focus. She expressed her intent to volunteer with Hospice to support Deaf individuals and those without family at life's end. “That calling gets stronger as each day passes by,” she conveyed, as per EPCC News. Victoria, ready to carry on the torch, will continue shaping the Navajo's service landscape at EPCC and mentor the next generation of interpreters.
