This summer, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) hosted 47 high school students from San Benito, Raymondville, and La Sara school districts, providing them an opportunity to get a head start on their college careers.
The Center for Student Success at TAMUK received a generous $100,000 donation from the Ed Rachal Foundation (www.edrachal.org) to operate the “Bridges to Success” program this summer.
Participating high school students took dual credit college courses alongside TAMUK students. During the 5-week long summer session, most dual enrolled students each took two three-credit hour core classes that will meet both their high school and college curriculum needs.
“We are grateful to the Ed Rachal Foundation for funding this program that is so important to our students. This program will allow high school students and incoming freshmen to make progress toward a successful college career. The grant paid for tuition and fees, meals, textbooks and for all the tutors,” said Dr. Nancy KingSanders, TAMUK Associate Vice-President for Student Success.
“These programs are truly giving our students a firsthand college experience, which is instrumental in their pursuit of a postsecondary education,” added TAMUK College Readiness Specialist and San Benito CISD Trustee Angel Mendez.
The dual enrollment students had required study times and also attended personal/academic enrichment workshops in which they learned about such topics like professional appearance and communication, goal setting and career exploration. Students also developed strategies in note taking and test-preparation.
“Our students are the best, academically and socially. I believed in them since the planning stages of this program,” proudly explains SBVMA Principal Gilbert Galvan.
“When we were at orientation, I didn’t want to leave my family and I almost didn’t stay, but when you live with other people for a month, they grow on you. They become a new family to you,” explained Angela Nuñez, now a San Benito High School sophomore.
“At the end of the camp, nobody wanted to leave because of how close we had all become. We went thinking that all we would get out of it was college credit, and we came back with much more than that,” added Nuñez, last year’s SBVMA student council president.
Although the summer program was rigorous, the students also had participated in daily recreational activities such as bowling, swimming, ping-pong, and board games.
At the end of the first summer semester, the students were treated to a closing ceremony dinner where they were awarded with their certificate of completion.
“Our goal is that these programs will help the students understand what college is all about and put them on the right track to graduate,” said Dr. King Sanders.
“I was proud and honored when I attended their banquet at the end of the program. They are college ready, and they are the future of San Benito CISD and the world,” Galvan proudly added.
Numerous San Benito High School and San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy (SBVMA) students participated in the 2014 “Bridges to Success” program, sponsored by The Center for Student Success at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Participants took dual credit courses, and most dual enrolled students each took two three-credit hour classes during the 5-week long summer session. Shown alongside Texas A&M University-Kingsville College Readiness Specialist and San Benito CISD Trustee Angel Mendez (far left) and SBVMA Principal Gilbert Galvan (far right) are program participants (front, l-r) Jose Maximiliano Galvan, Gustavo de la Fuente, Juanita Zeta Montez, Juan Carlos Sosa Hernandez, Rebecca Caballero, Kristen Mendez; (back) two TAMUK Center for Student Success student representatives, Daniela Lopez, Christopher Hernandez-Contreras, Angela Nuñez, Victor V. Vega, Matthew Vega, Julissa Gonzalez, and Madeline Hernandez. Not shown: Mirna Zuniga.