STC DEEA students a degree ahead of their high school peers

The 2008 STC DEEA graduating class includes Ashley Lynette Hinojosa, DeeAnn Vasquez Medrano and Moises A. Campos from Donna High School; Carolina Saenz, Erica Nicole Balderas, Kimberly Alysha Garza, Nancy Pe䘛20Sarahi S. Friscal and Presey Martinez Jr. from Edcouch Elsa High School; Crystal Meza, Michael D. Pietrzak and Miguel Angel Flores from Hidalgo High School; Federico Gutierrez Jr. and Luis Arturo Escobar from Mercedes High School; Edgar Ismael Infante from McAllen Memorial High School; Cecilia G. Corral from PSJ High School; Joan Eduardo Ibarra from PSJA Memorial High School; Avery Claire Forshage, Chandni R. Bhakta, Laura Michelle Whitney, Maria Jacqueline Chang, Orlando Abrahn Torres, Roshan Jaic Thomas and Racquel Lovelace from Science Academy; Christopher H. McCoy and Tyler Smith from Sharyland High School; Carlos Cesar Martinez Jr. from Weslaco East High School; Claudia Gabriela De Los Santos, Daniel Martinez, Francisco Espitia, Gloria E Gomez, Joseph Russell Sargent and Lucia Ayala from Weslaco High School.

In addition to the amazing accomplishment of completing two years of college during their junior and senior years of high school, DEEA students have also earned more than $1,300,000 in scholarships and have been accepted to universities across the nation. Additional awards and scholarships are still pending.

“I am now proud to say that I’ll be one of the first students to ever graduate with an associate’s degree in engineering before graduating from high school,” said DEEA graduate DeeAnn Vasquez, who is a DEEA graduate and the valedictorian of her high school graduating class at Donna High School. “I was accepted to both Cornell and Stanford and was awarded the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship, which will provide me with full financial support from my bachelor’s degree all the way to my doctoral degree. This would not have been possible without the education, workshops, tutoring, college visits and guidance provided by STC’s DEEA.”

The program offers students interested in the fields of math and science the opportunity to take college courses while in high school at no cost. It not only covers tuition, but prepares students for the challenges of a higher education in engineering and success in life.

“We keep them on their toes; these students take their high school courses in the morning and then come to STC and take college classes till 5:30 or 6 p.m.,” said Chavez. “They also have to keep up with all of their extracurricular activities, social obligations, family and work opportunities. It’s amazing to see how these students have stepped up to the challenge. Each one has had their own issues to tackle, but through a positive outlook and plenty of encouragement and motivation, they have each succeeded. We are so proud of their many accomplishments!”

Throughout the program, students participate in numerous workshops that help alleviate the challenges of being a dual enrollment student. The workshops educate students about time management, scholarship searches, college applications, dorms, paying for college, self-esteem and even how to maintain a healthy relationship in college.

Students not only learn through class work, but also by participating in the educational trips the academy provides, including observations at NASA in Houston and college visits. Through these opportunities students see where an education in engineering can take them.

In addition to support from South Texas College and Hidalgo-area school districts, other education groups in the region and the state have offered their support to ensure DEEA students are successful. The University of Texas-Pan American is instrumental in creating career awareness among the participating DEEA students, as well as offering students tours of the UTPA College of Engineering. The Texas Higher Education Board has given the academy a grant, which will be used to provide a Pre-Engineering Summer Camp, where students will be part of a math and physics camp, attend workshops and get an informative educational presentation and tour at Motorola.

For more information about STC’s DEEA call 872-2619 or visit your H.S. counselor.