PREP students learn about computer technology and exercise their minds in
projects such as designing bottle rockets.
TexPREP program nominated for Texas Higher Education Star Award
(Sept. 26, 2002)--The Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) at the University of Texas at San Antonio is one of 15 finalists selected for the second annual Texas Higher Education Star Award. The award, established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, recognizes exemplary contributions toward increasing the number of Texas students who choose to pursue higher education.TexPREP identifies achieving middle and high school students with the interest and potential for careers in science, engineering and technology, and other mathematics-related areas and reinforces them in the pursuit of these fields. The eight-week, mathematics-based academic program designed for students in grades six through eleven allows students to receive up to one elective credit toward high school graduation for each successfully completed summer of TexPREP.
The academic program is staffed by professionals from various disciplines and industries such as college faculty, high school teachers, industrial engineers, scientists and mathematicians. The program also enlists the help of assistant mentors, typically undergraduate engineering, mathematics and science majors.
The program was founded in 1979 by UTSA Professor Manuel Berriozabal and since 1986, it has been replicated in 13 other Texas communities. In 1996, a grant was awarded from NASA to provide for the replication of the program throughout the nation and Puerto Rico. The nationwide program, Proyecto Access, is operational at 10 campuses.
"The Star Award recognizes the programs and people who represent the state's best efforts at closing the educational gaps that we face," said Commissioner of Higher Education Don Brown. "We need to enroll hundreds of thousands more students in college, and we need to make sure they succeed there in high-quality academic programs."
He added that the state's “Closing the Gaps by 2015” plan has four higher education goals: to close the gaps in participation, to close the gaps in success, to close the gaps in excellence and to close the gaps in research.
No more than 12 finalists will receive the awards, based on the recommendations of a nine-member committee made up of three Coordinating Board members, three business and community leaders, and three out-of-state educational experts. The award winners will be announced at the Coordinating Board's quarterly meeting on Oct. 24.
----------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Office
of Graduate Studies hosts recruitment fair
Archaeologists
solve mysteries of the past at ITC
TexPREP program nominated for Texas Higher Education Star Award
UTSA
Lyric Theatre to present 'Das Barbecu'
UTSA
researcher receives grant to design vaccines
U.S.
News ranks engineering college #46 in the nation
UTSA
ID = free admission to San Antonio Museum of Art
----------------------------------------------------------