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Contact: Julie Navejar
kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

Bookstore employees prove they are best sellers


Al Garcia and Sergio Galvan

KINGSVILLE (January 20, 2006) — The Texas A&M University-Kingsville bookstore, operated by Barnes and Noble, has at least two Bestsellers, but they aren’t sitting on the shelves, they are hard at work.

The Kingsville location of Barnes and Noble’s College Division has two students chosen as part of the Bestseller Program, a management intern program that places graduates in a management position.

Mary R. Garza, bookstore manager, said they have last year’s Bestseller, Sergio Galvan, who after finishing his year as an intern was placed in the Kingsville store as assistant manager, and Al Garcia, this year’s Bestseller who will graduate in May. Both are from Eagle Pass and both have or are working on numerous degrees, none in business.

Galvan started working at the bookstore 10 years ago as a student. He has since received bachelor’s degrees in biology, industrial technology and Spanish and is working toward a master’s degree in educational administration.

He said he enjoys his position as assistant manager because he gets to work with all the sections of the store. He especially likes working with textbooks because they handle the different phases from adoption to ordering to get them in the hands of the students.

Garcia is a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in Spanish. He is also studying music but will not complete that degree so he can continue with Barnes and Noble when he graduates in May.

He was working at the bookstore when he applied for the Bestseller program and was accepted. Garcia said he already has offers for his first management position after he graduates, but hasn’t decided which one he will accept.

Galvan said he also would like to work as a textbook manager and move up the ladder possibly into the corporate office.

Garza said Bestsellers are chosen from those who apply and go through the interview process. Those chosen work 10 to 20 hours per week learning all the components of bookstore management.

She said she is currently looking for a new Bestseller to start in May.

Students can apply for the Bestseller program as early as their freshman year as long as they have been working at the bookstore for six months. When the program is completed, the student will be qualified for a management level position in one of the 500 College Bookseller stores around the country, Garza said.

For more information on the Bestseller program, call Garza at 361-593-2601.

This page last updated 20 January, 2006