Brenda Garza | The Rider
Veteran, actor and best-selling author J.R. Martinez will speak from 7 to 9 tonight at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center in Edinburg.
Martinez is a motivational speaker, advocate and a wounded U.S. Army veteran who will share his inspirational journey with the Rio Grande Valley community.
Soon after joining the Army in 2002, he suffered severe burns to 34 percent of his body after driving a Humvee that hit a roadside bomb on April 5, 2003, according to his website, www.jrmartinez.com.
Martinez spent nearly three years in recovery in a San Antonio Army medical facility, where he has received 34 surgeries to date, and after speaking to a burn patient, he decided to use his own experiences to help others, the website states.
The Army veteran is known for his acting and dancing careers.
“I remember seeing him on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” said Rebecca Garza, a UTRGV nursing freshman.
He won season 13 of “Dancing with the Stars” with partner Karina Smirnoff and has been featured on many shows, such as “Ellen,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Tonight Show” and “60 Minutes.” Currently, Martinez is co-starring on the CW Network series, “SAF3.”
He is one of four speakers in the Distinguished Speaker Series that Student Involvement is presenting this academic year.
“We try to select one-of-a-kind speakers that can bring something different to the university and can provide once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students,” said Cindy Mata-Vasquez, director of Student Activities.
On Oct. 4, Albert Manero, an engineering innovator, executive director and founder of Limbitless Solutions, who helps disabled youth through the manufacturing and distribution of prosthetic limbs via 3-D printing, was the first speaker of the series.
Actress Laverne Cox, who stars in the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” will follow Martinez in the series and will share her story on Feb. 8 in Edinburg.
Cox is the first transgender woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream television show. She is a renowned speaker and is paving the path for the LGBTQAI+ community in her industry.
“I know her from ‘Orange is the New Black’ and she’s an activist,” said English junior Elizabeth Elizondo. “She stands up for those who are transgender and I’m with her. People should be more open about it and I’m really excited that she’s coming.”
Alison Levine, team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, will end the series on March 29 at the Texas Southmost College Arts Center in Brownsville.
Levine has accomplished what is known as the Adventure Grand Slam by climbing the highest peak on every continent and skiing to both the North and South Poles, which fewer than 40 people in the world have achieved.
Admission to the Distinguished Speaker Series is free. For more information, call 665-2660 in Edinburg or 882-5111 in Brownsville.
