Hestec 2015 magazine

HESTEC 2015

2 | HESTEC 2015

Since its inception, the Hispanic Engineering, Science, and Technology (HESTEC) Week has become a nationally recognized model for promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers among young people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will build on the program’s legacy of promoting STEM education to further prepare the next generation of students who will be changing the world through STEM. South Texas, the state of Texas, and the country’s scientific and economic stability will face continued challenges without an increase in the number of students entering STEM fields. From worker shortages to the loss of high-paying jobs to the loss of critical research and manufacturing resources, the lack of STEM graduates will have a significant impact on the country. To address this issue, UTRGV remains committed to growing and expanding the reach of HESTEC to attract a larger number of students, teachers, parents, corporate and congressional leaders to develop new programs and approaches to address the need for more STEM workers and professionals at a regional, national and global level.

CONTENT Letter from the UTRGV President . . . . . . . 3

Robotics Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Congressional Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

HESTEC By the Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Educator Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Community Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Superintendents’ Leadership Breakfast. . 9

SLD Breakout Sessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Student Leadership Day (SLD). . . . . . . . . . 10

SeaPerch Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Educator Day Breakout Sessions . . . . . . . 12

Region One GEAR UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Latina Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Latina Day Fashion Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Recognition of Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Message from The President

On behalf of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, I want to thank our donors, supporters, special guests, corporate partners, and the public for helping make HESTEC, Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Week, a huge success. Thousands of middle and high school students and teachers converged on the Edinburg Campus and heard inspiring speeches, took part in hands-on activities and participated in demonstrations designed to spur their interest in the many opportunities they can pursue in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. I especially want to thank our governor, our secretary of education, legislators, CEOs of national corporations, astronauts, scientists, journalists and actors who took time from their busy schedules and came to the Rio Grande Valley to engage and empower our students. Recognized as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bright Spot in Hispanic Educationâ&#x20AC;? by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, HESTEC is a model program for promoting STEM careers to students of all ages. We look forward to partnering for HESTEC 2016. With your generous support, we can develop our next generation of scientists, doctors and engineers.

Guy Bailey, UTRGV Founding President

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Congressional Dinner SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015 There’s a lot of work ahead, though, Hinojosa added. “The business of innovation is about solving problems, and a diverse workforce does a better job of solving them,” he said. “The more we can demystify STEM careers, the more we can attract students across the range of minorities to pursue them. UTRGV Founding President Dr. Guy Bailey, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, Paul Rodriguez and José Díaz-Balart at the Congressional Dinner.

he University of Texas Rio Grande Valley kicked off its Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week with a formal Congressional Dinner on Oct. 4. This was the first year UTRGV directed the weeklong conference, but this was the 14th anniversary for the event, which is designed to spur interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields for middle and high school students. HESTEC was spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Dr. Miguel Nevárez, who was president at the time of UTRGV’s legacy institution, The University of Texas-Pan American. Addressing a full room of dignitaries and friends at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, Hinojosa praised the success of the program, saying it has fostered not only an increase in Hispanic students pursuing careers in STEM, but also has increased diversity in the Rio Grande Valley because people are moving into the area to work and study. He said 34 percent of the more than 2,000 engineering students UTPA graduated are women. “I believe ... that education – higher education – is for all, and HESTEC is going to do exactly that,” he said.

“That is why, in this current political climate with deep budget cuts, we must be vigilant about defending the resources necessary to prepare our students for their education to help them develop their (skills) for STEM careers.” Attendees also heard from U.S. Rep. Filemón Vela (TX-34) and education leaders. They saw videos of students who had attended previous HESTEC events and who now are in college, pursuing STEM-related majors and from former students who now work in STEM fields. There also was a videotaped message from outgoing U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who was a participant in a panel discussion at HESTEC 2015. Actor and comedian Paul Rodriguez closed out the night with a keynote address that was at times funny and heavy with sentiment.

Paul Rodriguez served as Keynote Speaker.

“The more we can demystify STEM careers, the more we can attract students across the range of minorities to pursue them.” - Congressman Rubén Hinojosa

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6 | HESTEC 2015

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

former director of the U.S. Census Bureau got HESTEC’s Educator Day off to a solid start on Oct. 5 by affirming what leaders in the Rio Grande Valley have been saying for a long time now: The Hispanic population in this country is driving the population growth of Texas and the nation, and we have to pay close attention to their education. Dr. Steve Murdock, also a former Texas state demographer, addressed a few hundred secondary-level math and science teachers, during HESTEC at the Fieldhouse on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus. “Education is the key to changing the socioeconomics of what are going to be the most important population groups in Texas,” Murdock said. “And the most important one of all, in terms of what happens to our future in the United States and in Texas, is the Hispanic population.” As the state and U.S. populations shift, he said, it is critical to make changes in educational attainment. That will help equalize the country’s socioeconomic situation and help prevent a decline in the overall quality of life, he said. Current statistics show that the poverty rate among African American and Hispanic populations is two to three times higher than that of whites, and those two groups have lower educational attainment than whites. Statistics also show that the better the level of educational attainment is, the better the average household income is. “Education pays,” Murdock said. “If we do nothing and we don’t change these socioeconomic differences – in terms of ethnic and racial group – by educational level, we’ll actually have a decline of about $8,000 in real dollars income by 2050.”

Congressional panel participants pose with Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (center).

CONTINUING THE EDUCATION DIALOGUE After Murdock, U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) led a Congressional panel on the importance of encouraging more students to consider careers in STEM. Hinojosa and fellow U.S. Reps. Filemón Vela (TX-34), Joaquín Castro (TX-20), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Judy Chu (CA-27), as well as representatives from education, federal agencies and industries, talked about initiatives they have helped create to offer more opportunities for students in STEM education and careers. Hinojosa hailed the creation of UTRGV and its medical school, as well as the expansion of educational programs at local community colleges and K-12 school districts, as catalysts in spurring research and economic growth in the Valley. But more must be done to ensure the area’s future success, he said. “We must continue to invest in students, in education, and workforce training,” he said.

AND THE AWARDS GO TO... Four Valley educators were honored with the UTRGV HESTEC ExxonMobil Educator Day Award: • Kevin Kelly, science teacher, Roma High School • Albino Lozano, science teacher, Hidalgo Early College High School • Alejandra Treviño, math teacher, San Benito High School • Charles Zeissel, math teacher, Santa Rosa High School Each received an apple-shaped trophy, a Microsoft Surface tablet, and an all-expenses-paid trip to a national conference in the teacher’s area of specialty. Pictured from left to right, Rosendo Cruz (ExxonMobil), Kevin Kelly, Albino Lozano, Alejandra Treviño, Charles Zeissel and Kristopher McKinney (Region One GEAR UP).

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SUPERINTENDENTS’ LEADERSHIP

BREAKFAST MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

large group of public and charter school superintendents from across the Rio Grande Valley met during HESTEC on Oct. 5 with national government leaders, corporate partners, and UTRGV administrators and faculty, during the Superintendents’ Leadership Breakfast. The goal was to initiate open dialogue and share ideas on how to provide more opportunities for students and ensure their success. Superintendents were able to meet at the Edinburg Campus with five U.S. Congressmen,

including Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15), Filemón Vela (TX-34), Judy Chu (CA-27), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), and Joaquín Castro (TX-20), and discuss the importance of partnerships with corporate leaders from Shell, Texas Instruments, ExxonMobil, and others. Discussion topics included legislation affecting K-12 education; corporate support, particularly in promoting STEM; Texas initiatives to promote student access and success; and UTRGV recruitment and outreach to schools. “Think about all the people in this room today,” said

Area schools superintendents gathered for breakfast and round table dialogue with national government leaders, corporate partners and administrators and faculty of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, during the HESTEC Superintendents Leadership Breakfast.

Guy Bailey, founding UTRGV president, in his welcome remarks. “If we can’t have impact on education, who can? We look forward to working with you on a long-term, ongoing basis about one great issue – the success of our students.” Dr. Art Cavazos, superintendent of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and a bachelor’s and master’s degree alumnus from UT Pan American – a UTRGV

legacy institution – said the gathering was an excellent opportunity, especially during the establishment of UTRGV as a new regional university. “Often, we spend a lot of time talking in silos, rather than coming together as a region,” he said. “Anytime we can bring people together to visit about the very things that we need to be addressing in order for kids to persist in postsecondary education is a celebration.”

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discover yourFuture through STEM

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10 | HESTEC 2015

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015 “People think it’s just about astronauts, but there are many other fields you can go into,” said Castillo, who is interested in studying business administration when he goes to college. “There’s accounting, there’s marketing, there’s everything you can possibly do at NASA. It’s just amazing; I didn’t think you could do that many things.” After attending breakout sessions, where they learned about STEM-related career prospects, students heard from Elise Longpree, director of Community Investment Corporate Brand and Reputation for Time Warner, and from José Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott addresses a crowd of students at Student Leadership Day.

he 1,200 high school students who attended HESTEC’s Student Leadership Day expected to hear about the many opportunities that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers could offer them. But no one expected a spelling quiz. Governor Greg Abbott asked the teenagers how to spell the word “money.” In unison, students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Fieldhouse shouted it out.

ASTRONAUT: TAP INTO YOUR TALENTS Dr. Bernard Harris, former astronaut and founder of the Bernard Harris Foundation, delivered the afternoon keynote address. Harris, the first African American to walk in space and a medical doctor by trade, started the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, a two-week enrichment program for middle school students interested in the STEM fields. UTRGV’s legacy institution, The University of Texas-Pan American, has been a host site for the camp since 2009.

The governor, however, corrected them.

Harris shared stories about his missions with NASA and the work that goes into preparing for space travel. He also talked about his love of science fiction, and how many technologies that were imagined in movies, television shows and other works of science fiction have now become realities.

“The way you spell money,” Abbott said, “is S-T-E-M. The reality is, your focus on STEM education and career is going to put you on the pathway to making more money when you graduate from college.”

“Start thinking about those technologies, those ideas, those solutions that haven’t been invented yet,” Harris said. “Some of you will be the next Steve Jobs or the next Bill Gates. Who knows what you can do? Only you know that.”

“M-O-N-E-Y!”

Even more important than making money, he said, is obtaining the skills and training that will allow them to change the world around them with their ideas and innovations.

STUDENTS TALK OPPORTUNITY Students said they enjoyed learning about the programs UTRGV has to offer, as well as the variety of jobs available at various organizations. J.J. Castillo, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Rosa High School, said he was glad to hear about the range of job opportunities at NASA. Dr. Bernard Harris: Former astronaut and founder of the Bernard Harris Foundation.

Maria UTRGV Graduate Student Studying ways to protect our coastal and marine environments.

Every accomplishment in life begins with a choice. The bigger the choice, the bigger the accomplishment. When it comes to your potential, your goals, and your future, choosing the right university is as big as it gets. With more than 120 undergraduate, graduate programs, and a School of Medicine, UTRGV gives you the options you need to make the right choice for the future. To learn more or to apply, visit UTRGV.edu.

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Breakout Sessions MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

ESTEC 2015 created a world of wonders on its first full day of activities, during a series of special breakout sessions dealing with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Clorandy Taborda, a PSJA North High School science teacher, was among hundreds of Rio Grande Valley educators who attended HESTEC Educator Day on Oct. 5, on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus. Taborda chose the NASA workshop on teaching heat transfer for his first session. “This will be a good way for my students to learn about heat transfer with a hands-on activity,” Taborda said. “They will like this way of figuring out this concept. I’m glad I came.” He said he had been to HESTEC Educator Day in the past, and was glad to attend this year, grateful his registration fee was paid by GEAR UP. PSJA North High School is a Texas Education Service Center Region One GEAR UP campus. The heat transfer session was led by Brandon Hargis, a NASA education specialist for educator professional development. A Texas State University faculty member, Hargis is on loan to NASA for five years. “Remember to impress the process upon your students – brainstorm, design, build, test, review, redesign, test, and keep the cycle going,” he said. Hargis was assisted by Alicia Cortez, program manager for NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS). “Educators are one of NASA’s special audiences,” Cortez said. “We create content and provide opportunities to help

them teach STEM. We encourage K-16 teachers to refer to the great resources available on the NASA website.” Amanda Knies, a sixth-grade math and science teacher from the Lasara Independent School District, said her first breakout session was informative, covering the numerous career options that intertwine directly or indirectly with STEM. “Students have many different career options now. And we have so many talented students. We are trying to recruit and keep our students here in the Valley,” she said. “There are so many more opportunities, no matter what you want to be – a SCUBA diver, a scientist, a doctor or a nature photographer. Students can and should look at their broader career options.” Knies also attended “El Niño: A Driver of Global Weather and Climate,” a session conducted by Tim Smith, meteorologist from KRGV-TV Channel 5, and Alex Garcia, meteorologist from FOX 29 News in San Antonio. Smith and Garcia have been teaming up for about 15 years to provide educational opportunities to educators and school children. “You teachers are on the front lines of education,” Garcia said. “We know you want to go over concepts that students can relate to, such as El Niño. Everyone asks about El Niño, and kids hear the term. We have some ideas to share with you – ways for the students to use various websites in the classroom to learn about ocean-water temperatures and uncover the mysteries of what El Niño really is and why it occurs.” Knies said the weather presentation was “awesome,” and she plans to use what she learned from Garcia and Smith in both her science and math classes.

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14 | HESTEC 2015

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 “We have some serious girl power in this room,” said Gonzales, the first woman to represent District 41 in the Texas House of Representatives. “We want you to leave here appreciating where life has taken you up to now, and more importantly, we want you to leave here energized and excited about the possibilities that await you as strong Latinas.”

HARD WORK AND CREATIVITY

ressed in matching pink T-shirts, female high school students and their mothers/mentors were encouraged to dream big and aim high at HESTEC’s Latina Day. Mothers and daughters gathered at the Fieldhouse on Oct. 7 to hear from inspiring women, including Veronica Gonzales, UTRGV vice president for Governmental and Community Relations; Dr. Theresa Maldonado, UTRGV senior vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development; Norma O. McCormick, coordinator of the Ready, Set, College! Partnership, Region Education Service Center; and Briana M. Lyssy, Governmental and Community Affairs liaison for Marathon Oil.

Honored during Latina Day – also her birthday – was UTRGV’s own Dr. Karen Lozano, Julia Beecherl Endowed Professor in mechanical engineering who recently was named the Engineer of the Year by Great Minds in STEM. Lozano is only the third woman to garner this distinction in 27 years. Working with another faculty member, Lozano invented a more efficient way to produce nanofibers that led to the creation in 2009 of FibeRio Technology Corporation, where Lozano is chief technology officer. In 2013, she was invited to the White House, along with other high-achieving Hispanics to provide advice to President Barack Obama on the contributions by immigrants to the nation.

OUTSIDE THE BOX During a series of morning breakout sessions, the students and their mothers were challenged to solve engineering problems, and heard from professionals on the industries that rely on their smarts to develop new technologies. A message driven home by many of the HESTEC corporate presenters: Be creative. “Creativity is so important,” said Kim Gonzales, a digital content engineer for Texas Instruments. “You need to think outside the box.” Jessica Morales, 16 and a sophomore from IDEA San Benito College Prep High School, said she had fun and loved learning about engineering at Latina Day. “It opens your eyes, because I’m more set on law, ever since fifth grade,” she said. “And now, seeing this, I see there’s more options than I thought.” Jessica’s mother, Deborah, said she applauds the university for introducing the educational and career opportunities available to them. “We grew up in a time where we didn’t have all these opportunities to see what was out there, so I’m glad that they’re given the opportunity to see outside of the box,” she said.

16 | HESTEC 2015

Confidence: It’s a powerful accessory to looking your best and being professional in today’s workforce. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 Hundreds of Latinas heard that message loud and clear as they watched models of all ages, shapes, sizes, and professions hit the runway at the first-ever HESTEC Fashion Show on Oct. 7. The event, held during Latina Day, was designed to highlight professional attire and accessories that can help promote a positive image in the workplace. Velinda Reyes, UTRGV assistant vice president for Community Programs and Operations, said the fashion show was organized to show young girls that no matter what field you are in, you need to look the part. Edinburg North High School student Anissa Mercado and her mother, Nelda Mercado, gave it their all as they walked the runway in business attire. Both said they enjoyed their first runway experience together. “I feel like, if you’re dressed nice, you’re more confident, and someone’s first judgment of you is how you present yourself,” Anissa said.

18 | HESTEC 2015

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015 Members of the Roma High School robotics team didn’t know what to expect when they entered the HESTEC Robotics Day competition. It was the first time any of the five-member team had participated in the annual competition, and they certainly didn’t expect to capture the top prize. “We’re really excited,” said Pedro Rodriguez III, a 16-yearold junior at Roma High. “We were really intimidated because we knew there’d be about 60 teams, but we never knew we would have this outcome.” Roma High School won first place overall at the 14th annual HESTEC Robotics Day, held Oct. 8, at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg Campus. Among the more than 30 partners who supported HESTEC 2015, GE Aviation and AEP sponsored Robotics Day in 2015. The competition included more than 60 middle and high

school teams, who brought their programmable LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots to the Fieldhouse to flex their academic muscles and vie for prizes in four challenges: the LEGO Grand Prix, the LEGO Strength Challenge, the LEGO Pull Challenge and the LEGO Tracer.

Roma High team members named their robot WH3EL-E (pronounced WHEEL-E). Dariana Tamez, an 11th grade student and the only female member of the winning team, described the experience as thrilling. “Programming is easy, but building the robot was complicated because you had to make it a certain weight and a certain length,” said Tamez, who hopes to go into forensics. It took the team a month and a half to build the robot. They stayed after school every day for two hours, and the night before the competition, they tested it for five to six hours.

• FIRST PLACE OVERALL: Roma High School, Roma, Texas • SECOND PLACE OVERALL: Kenneth White Junior High, Mission, Texas • THIRD PLACE OVERALL: Alton Memorial Junior High, Mission, Texas

• In the LEGO Strength and Tracer Challenges: Roma High School • In the LEGO Grand Prix and Pull Challenges: Alton Memorial Junior High

2 1. A crowd gathers to watch the robotics competition at the UTRGV Fieldhouse as students from across the Rio Grande Valley showcased their engineering skills, during HESTEC’s Robotics Day. 2. Pictured front row, from left, are Roma HS students Mario Ramirez Jr. and Jesay Garcia. Standing, from left, are UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Roma HS students Pedro Rodriguez III, Antonio Rodriguez and Dariana Tamez, and Roma HS teacher/advisor Berry Nall.

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HESTEC

Hestec by the numbers by th3 Num8ers More than

More than

15,100

8,200

students impacted during HESTEC Student Leadership Day.

educators impacted during HESTEC Educator Day.

More than

24,000 students impacted during HESTEC Middle School Challenge.

More than

14,900

students and their mother/mentors impacted during HESTEC Latina Day.

More than

3,565 students impacted during HESTEC Robotics Day.

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DAY

“A day enjoyed by thousands at UTRGV”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015

There’s all kinds of vibes walking through the campus today. - Michael Fossum NASA Astronaut

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley concluded HESTEC Week on Oct. 10 with the always popular Community Day with performances by Disney Channel star Dove Cameron and country music sensation Chris Young.

what is available out there for them,” Villarreal said of HESTEC. “When I was a kid, I was interested in taking things apart and putting them back together, but I never thought about it as a profession, like mechanical engineering.

A path starting from the Fieldhouse and leading up to the Science and Engineering Building on the Edinburg Campus led visitors to numerous food booths run by student organizations as well as a number of fun activities and events for the entire family.

A sophomore now, this was Villarreal’s first year participating in HESTEC, and he said he enjoyed it a great deal and hopes to bring his nieces and nephews to the event in the future. “So, as I was growing up, an event like this would have helped me decide what I wanted to do. This event is all about the kids and the community,” Villarreal said.

The event provided a great opportunity for the community to tour the UTRGV Edinburg Campus and familiarize themselves with the new university’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. During tours of the Hi-Bay area, students visited the Baja Lab, and witnessed demonstrations on water channels and learned about biochemical and nanotechnology. UTRGV mechanical engineering major Domingo Villarreal helped out with the Baja Lab tours, where he and classmates demonstrated a racecar they had built. “It sparks kid’s interests in science and math, and they get to see

MICHAEL FOSSUM NASA Astronaut

Isaac Burner, a fourth grader, attended the event with his mother, April Burner, and 12-year-old sister, Kayla. April said she regularly brings her children to HESTEC Community Day. “They like it, and I like it,” she said. Her children are interested in science already, she said, and exposing them to science opens their eyes to the possibilities within the field. “They get to see what they can do, instead of just learning it in a classroom, because now they get to experience and they see it … the possibilities are limitless,” she said.

Celebrating UTRGVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first HESTEC UTRGV

26 | HESTEC 2015

ollowed by an inspiring address by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, approximately 1,200 GEAR UP high school students from across the Rio Grande Valley spent the day at HESTEC Student Leadership Day on Oct. 6. UTRGV engineering students and professional engineers treated students to breakout sessions with interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities throughout the day. Rudy De La Torre and Anthony Garcia, both from Weslaco High School, got a sneak peek at renewable energy robots designed by UTRGV students. They also attended a session on 3D printers given by UTRGV engineering students.

Breakout Sessions TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015

“That’s the first time I’ve seen a 3D printer, and the models they showed us are so cool. Also, we got to see a go-cart in the Baja Lab made by the students – that really caught my attention,” said De La Torre, who thinks he would like to study electrical engineering. Breakout sessions included not only STEM demonstrations but also motivational and career-focused presentations.

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SeaPerch Competition 2015 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015

Lessons learned at last year’s HESTEC led the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest High School team to victory in the fifth annual U.S. Navy SeaPerch Challenge, held Oct. 9. The team had to forfeit last year because of faulty wiring on its remote-control watercraft robot. This year, though, the team made modifications to its robot, “Lucy SW2,” to capture first place with 123 points. Team members said they had worked on Lucy SW2 until as late as 8 p.m. the past few nights. “We work well under pressure,” said Alejandra Urbina, 15, a sophomore at PSJA Southwest High. Twenty-four high school teams from across South Texas competed at the UTRGV natatorium on the Edinburg Campus. Students developed remote-controlled watercraft robots where

HESTEC 2015

they maneuvered through an underwater obstacle course, picking up plastic rings from the bottom of the pool. They also had to present their device, along with a poster explaining the process of developing the robot, to a panel of judges. Judges tabulated scores from the obstacle course, ring pickup, and presentation, to determine the winner. As winners, the PSJA Southwest High School team is eligible to compete in the 2016 National SeaPerch Challenge in May at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Veterans Memorial High School in Mission won second place, and Sharyland High School won third place in the SeaPerch competition. This was the first year the contest became an official regional competition.

Encouraging Youth to Explore the Wonders of Science

30 | HESTEC 2015

PARENT

Sheila Guerrero receives recognition as the Parent Leader of the Year at the GEAR UP National Conference. She is joined by Ranjit Sidhu, President and CEO of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships.

OF THE Y

EA R

GEAR UP PARENT LEADER OF THE YEAR | SHEILA BARRAGAN DE GUERRERO Hidalgo, Texas • Region One ESC GEAR UP: Ready, Set, College! Sheila Guerrero is a passionate supporter and advocate of Hidalgo Early College High School GEAR UP. She has lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities much of her life, and has seen first-hand how a lack of opportunities affects students. Hidalgo Independent School District is located on the Texas-Mexico border of the Rio Grande Valley and is seen as the “Treasure of the Border.” While this district provides an education to students from three of the most impoverished cities including Hidalgo, Las Milpas, and Granjeno, the community is rich in cultural, familial, and social capital. Guerrero’s drive for education is incredible, as she views it as “the great equalizer.” She believes it is her mission to teach parents and students of its importance. She is a student herself, and is currently learning English to better serve her community through advocacy. However, being a native Spanish speaker has been one of her greatest assets as the primary language of most families in the city of Hidalgo is Spanish. She has inspired many with her commitment to ensuring that students and families receive vital information needed for them to navigate the college-going process.

Guerrero attends all GEAR UP events, volunteers at Hidalgo Early College High School several times per week, hosts GEAR UP parent meetings at her home, and utilizes various means of communication to reach all families. She goes above and beyond to accommodate her community and ensure widespread dissemination of information. Because of her involvement with GEAR UP, other school district and community organizations have requested her to be a part of their committees and focus groups. The junior high constantly calls her to be the parent voice on committees. She is currently a member of the Hidalgo ECHS LPAC committee, a Robotics and National Honor Society parent sponsor, the High School Parent and Outreach Committee, and the District Health Committee. In addition, she is an active volunteer with the South Texas Literacy Coalition and is always available to assist teachers and administrators. Guerrero has risen to every challenge presented, and with her drive to help students she makes an enormous difference. Her hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. Her passion benefits not just GEAR UP students, but the entire community.

Valley students participate in the

2015 CHCI

R2L NextGen Program Region One ESC GEAR UP congratulates Carlos Castillo, Donna North High School, and John Gonzalez, La Villa Early College High School, for being selected to participate in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) R2L NextGen Program! This hands-on experience took place in Washington, D.C. during the week of July 26-31, 2015. This incredible leadership experience allowed Carlos and John to explore Washington, D.C. by walking the halls of congress, visiting historic monuments, and meeting key Latino leaders who are making a difference in their community. CHCI designed this program to help maximize the students’ learning by using every moment of the training to develop them as leaders. Both GEAR UP students are now ready to make a positive impact and difference in their schools and community. John and Carlos were selected by the CHCI committee because of their commitment to leadership, interest in civic engagement and desire to give back to their community.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GEAR UP STUDENTS!

Let's hear from our student leaders My overall experience in Washington, D.C. was amazing and also very fun. We were able to see many incredible monuments and some unbelievable museums Many of the past alumni, who were also Jr. Scholars, were happy to give me information about themselves and the colleges they have studied at. Overall, it was a very exciting experience to meet other Jr. Scholars from other states. I was able to connect with many of them. The highlight of my trip was meeting new and amazing people because each person had their own unique story of how they got to where they are. I was also able to share my life experiences and tell them my story about being a migrant. Many of the alumni also gave me very important information about college admissions that will be very helpful for me in the future. I will continue my personal leadership growth by joining clubs such as Student Council and Student Leadership Council to better improve my leadership skills. I will also volunteer at my school to set up college information and TSI prep for students who may have not passed it yet or who haven’t taken it. I am also volunteering at my city hall and doing community service for my local Boys and Girls Club to help improve my community.

-John Gonzalez

When I was informed about being selected as a CHCI NextGen Jr. Scholar, I was completely astonished. I could not believe that I was going to be given such a great opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. I knew I had applied and hoped for a chance, but to come to the realization that I was selected was beyond real. I was ready for the experience! While in Washington I met a group of amazing people from different places around the United States. As part of the program we visited various places and monuments, and had great workshops along the way. The highlight of this trip would definitely have to be the dance we had and the very emotional workshop we had the day before the program ended, along with the group of incredible people I met through CHCI. It was an experience that I will remember for many years to come. Definitely a great high school leadership experience to look back upon.

-Carlos Castillo

32 | HESTEC 2015

2015 Summer Institute

hands on

Healthcare Career Exploration

tudents from the three Willacy County GEAR UP campuses teamed up and were selected to present the 2015 Summer Institute “Hands on Healthcare Career Exploration” during a breakout session at HESTEC Latina Day. HESTEC focuses on exposing students to the various STEM fields in today’s workplace. Latina Day is an opportunity for female students and their mothers to spend the day hearing from prominent, professional women and motivational speakers that inspire girls to venture into today’s workforce and pursue their STEM dreams.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE Day one of the Willacy County GEAR UP Summer Institute included learning medical terminology and learning about the respiratory system. Activities included investigating various respiratory diseases and building a model of the lungs. Day two introduced a game similar to bingo called MEDGO. Students were able to use their knowledge of medical terminology from day one to play this inventive game. They studied the cardiovascular system and created a working model of the heart, as well as presenting in groups information on cardiovascular diseases. The culminating activity on day three was the dissection of a pig heart, complete with identification and labeling.

The Summer Institute continued on day four as GEAR UP students toured the University of Texas Health Science Center Simulation Hospital. Dr. Kristina Stillsmoking, Ph.D. took students through the center and discussed various types of medical simulation. They were given hands-on experience using patient simulators and participated in using a 3D patient scenario clinical reasoning. GEAR UP students also visited the UTRGV Physicians Assistant program. The tour included the gross anatomy lab, patient simulator floor, and conversations with current students of the program. The Summer Institute concluded with day five when students met to plan how to utilize their experience to spread the knowledge they gained to others throughout Willacy County. Students presented their experience at the 3rd Annual Willacy County Financial Aid and Career Night, and are planning for future events throughout the county.

MyRegionOne

.com

Guiding Students Toward College and Career Readiness

Just imagine....an online

Now, picture this....

platform that will allow students to create a digital portfolio, learn about career pathways, map out a high school to postsecondary academic plan, and have the ability to share that information with colleges and employers for the rest of their lives.

through this same online platform educators can create customizable HB5 Pathways, provide students with an HB5 approved Career Interest Inventory, AND access real-time academic tracking.

What Makes MyRegionOne.org a must-have for your district?

Portable e-portfolio Integrates a rich digital profile with ApplyTexas Moves with the student into college and their career Provides a single site for all work, recommendations, and accomplishments Makes available built-in badges to recognize and reward students

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible with MyRegionOne.org! We know that the demands on school districts to manage data is becoming more pronounced. To address this, Region One, in partnership with SureScore, launched MyRegionOne.org to provide districts with a tool that stores and manages HB5 endorsement pathways, course requests, career interest inventories, extracurriculars, PSAT/SAT/ACT scores, TSI scores, and other key college and career readiness information in a single system.

Integrated college and career discovery Ties Career Interest Inventory to Achieve Texas career clusters Provides individual and aggregate career cluster reports Integrates over 1,200 occupations to programs at area colleges

MyRegionOne.org enables school districts to collaborate more effectively with higher education partners to provide students with a direct pathway through high school and beyond.

With MyRegionOne.org students can create and update their digital profile.

HB5 personal grad plans (PGPs) Offers customizable PGPs with campus/ district-offered pathways and courses Presents 6 or 8 year plans that track credits for dual enrollment/AP Links high school pathway with a college major

24 7

24/7 online access for students, parents & administrators Engages parents with online and mobile access Complies with FERPA and Federal Student

Multiple reporting features

Video Wall

Students can develop a 6-year plan, building a connection between high school and post-secondary institutions, based on their pathway.

Provides customized dashboards with realtime college and career readiness data at different levels for staff, administrators, students, and parents.

Common Implementation & Funding Approaches

PGP

Discovery

Students have access to world-wide post-secondary institutions literally at their fingertips!

CTE Classes-Carl Perkins Funds, Workforce Funds College & Career Readiness Programs-IT/Access Funds

MyRegionOne.org grows with the student--as their interests change, students can update their Career Interest Inventory to open up new doors of possibilities.

College Connection Programs-College-awarded grants GEAR UP Grants & Programs Counseling, Migrant, & Special Populations Programs

34 | HESTEC 2015

Annual Events

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY

2017 Regional

Science bowl

This educational and entertaining event promotes literacy, culture and the arts through academic events and community outreach opportunities.

56TH ANNUAL RGV

Regional Science & Engineering Fair

ESTABLISHED IN 1960

The fair encourages an appreciation of science and engineering concepts through meaningful research experiences and a competition, supporting studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests across science-related fields of study.

Teams of high school and middle school students compete in a fast-paced, jeopardy style competition to answer questions across all branches of science and mathematics.

T ES

By promoting physical fitness, leadership and education to young men and their fathers, this event hosted in collaboration with Region One GEAR UP highlights the importance of being well-rounded and empowers men of all ages.

OVERHEARD AT

HESTEC There is no program like HESTEC. There is no program that has the visionary perspective that you bring to it, and what you are doing here is a model for the country. But more than that, it is giving the opportunity to thousands of kids to see, for the first time, a brighter future through STEM. It is an honor to be here, I will be here every single year.

Anytime that people can get together to advance education for our youngsters, it’s gotta be a good thing. So, it took me all about two seconds to say, ‘Yes, I’ll be there.’ And, I’d do it again.

José Díaz-Balart News Anchor and Journalist – Telemundo, MSNBC, NBC

Paul Rodriguez Actor and Comedian

If this is our future, we’re in great shape. Dr. Guy Bailey Founding President – UTRGV

HESTEC has done a marvelous job of bringing this whole community to see that STEM related careers are important and that it can be done. I see that the whole community has rallied behind this, and this will make sure that we will have a strong middle class in this country and that America as a nation will be stronger for it. Judy Chu Congresswoman – D-CA 27

It’s really important that we start building this ecosystem of talent, this infrastructure to be able to take our community forward. But it’s not just our community, it’s the United States, because they can’t do it without the Latino community and the Latino community can’t do it without the Rio Grande Valley playing an important role. There is so much talent here. Jose Antonio-Tijerino President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation

We’re exposing our students not only to STEM but to college. We want our students to leave feeling empowered to do anything they want to do, and we need to make sure they’re on the right track in school to land their dream jobs in the fields they desire.” Veronica Gonzales Vice President for Governmental & Community Relations, UTRGV

If these young people want a future, they need to be educated in the STEM fields, and so I want to make sure that they understand how important that is to their future. Dr. Bernard Harris Former NASA Astronaut, CEO, The Harris Foundation

The students that are here and the faculty that are here are involved in things that are changing our country. And it’s exciting. And HESTEC is the perfect opportunity to get the public out, to bring the school kids out, and the parents out to see the things that are going on. Michael Fossum NASA Astronaut