Year-end bash shares college, career readiness

A hot day couldn’t stop San Benito students and their parents from attending the End-of-the-Year Bash at Heavin Park on Tuesday afternoon.

The GEAR UP Program at Veterans Memorial Academy hosted the outreach event focused on college and career readiness and exploring the resources offered by financial institutions to pay for them.

The school district received the second largest federally funded GEAR UP grant. The grant was received two years ago when seventh grade students were selected.

The students, predominately minority and low-income, are guided until they graduate high school classes and are given opportunities to explore colleges and career paths.

Kristopher Lynn Mckinney, education specialist for the GEAR UP at Region One Education Service Center, said that program is all about post-secondary education and making students aware that college is for everyone. It guides them through the process of preparing to attend college once they graduate.

Students are taken on field trips to colleges and universities, or representatives are invited to talk to the students about the college experience and opportunities.

Patricia Sandoval, the GEAR UP facilitator at Veterans Memorial Academy, said she believes that the more times the students can set foot at a college or university campus, the more likely they are to attend one.

First Community Bank, Capitol One, RGV Credit Union and Security First Bank were on hand to answer questions on resources available to pay for college and to provide information on ways to start saving for college while the children are still young.

Local and state universities distributed literature and answered questions. Representatives spoke with students and parents about the schools and career paths available.

“First generation college students who attend college have more opportunities for funding resources,” Veteran’s Memorial Academy school principal Gilbert Galvan said.

The Dr. Ida H. Acuña-Garza of the South Texas Literacy Coalition donated 300 hundred books to students attending the event on Tuesday.

The event included performances by VMA Conjunto, B-Bopper Ray Perez, and the cheerleaders.

The event ended with a 45-minute telenovela from Exito Escolar, of Washington, D.C., which focused on the Latino population and academic success.

By MARICELA RODRIGUEZ Valley Morning Star