Unlocking Potential for M.I. Academy this September

(This article was written by Abigail Muniz-Garcia and was featured in the August 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

‘Unlocking Potential’ and ‘Brewing up Success’ are the themes that will mark this year’s M.I. Academy’s 4th Annual Gala. The event is set for Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the TSTC Cultural Arts Center. It is the first time the gala will be held at this location; previous galas have been held at Wild August Nursery and Flower Farm and at the post office in downtown Harlingen.

Photo courtesy of M.I. Academy.

Linda Noell, M.I. Academy founder and director, said preparation is underway and she is excited to host it there for the first time.

“It’s a little bigger this year,” she said. “This is the biggest space we’ve had to decorate.”

M.I. Academy, a nonprofit organization “Where Individual Meets Opportunity,” offers students with disabilities a place to continue their education as well as life skills programs once they have aged out of the public school system. Their objectives include fine arts, excursions, job site training, community involvement, continuing education, and vocational training. Housed at the Church of Christ on Harrison in Harlingen, it was originally located at Noell’s own home. The year was 2020 and Noell’s daughter, who has Down Syndrome, had graduated from high school. After a few people told her she should start something in Harlingen to address the gap, Noell took the leap.

Photo courtesy of M.I. Academy.

“With God’s help and the support of the great community behind me, I started that path,” Noell said.

With their third year having been completed in May, they are currently gearing up for their fourth year. The gala helps fund the school year.

“This event is extremely important. It carries us through the year,” Noell said.

Something Noell eagerly shared was how involved the students are in the gala.

“Our students will be very involved with greeting people and serving. They will also perform,” she said. She added that students will even be working behind the scenes by making some of the silent auction items. “They will be involved with every aspect of the fundraiser.”

Photo courtesy of M.I. Academy.

Putting together a fundraiser like the gala is work, but Noell gives credit to the sponsors for their contributions and the group of people that help organize and put on the event.

“I have 27 people on my fundraising team… parents are very involved. It’s a good group of people,” she said. “I’m beyond blessed – the Lord has blessed us and brought the people that need to be here. I’m just so inspired by the community support. I give all glory to God because He’s the one that is doing it.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now. You can purchase a general admission entry or a couple price entry. Sponsorship opportunities are also available such as the Excelsior Bean Sponsor that includes a reserved table for 8 people with wine service, charcuterie at the table, and prominent logo placement on their website and at the event.

Photo courtesy of M.I. Academy.

There will be live music, an open bar, large charcuterie, and a silent auction happening throughout the event. For more information, visit the “Events” tab on the M.I. Academy website, miacademyrgv.com, or scan the QR code on the flyer. You can also follow M.I. Academy on Facebook.