ENCORE CAMP Ignites College Awareness
Edinburg - June 16-19, 2009
By Marcela Navarro

EDINBURG - While other students in the Valley get ready for their summer break, Abigail Rodriguez invested her time off learning how to be ready for college.

"I thought college was just about getting your (school) work done," said Rodriguez, a 7th grade student from South Middle School in Edinburg. "Now I see college is about focusing on what you want to do for the rest of your life."

Rodriguez, 13, is one of the 37 middle school students from Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) who participated during the first ENCORE Career Awareness & Mentoring Program (CAMP) from June 16 to 19.

The ENCORE CAMP, coordinated by Engaging Communities for College Readiness (ENCORE) and Edinburg CISD, is an innovative program that creates college readiness awareness among students and their families. The CAMP also promotes hands-on activities in the areas of science and engineering as well as interactive college tours and peer mentoring.

"I really loved the (ENCORE) CAMP," said Rodriguez, who wants to pursue a career in medicine. "The instructors helped us a lot and they showed us what we need to do now so we can be ready to go to college in the future."

During the four-day CAMP, students were involved in several interactive activities that gave them a better understanding of what college readiness involves.

During the first day in the ENCORE CAMP, students obtained crucial information in the different areas of the college readiness process: the advantages of pursuing a postsecondary education, college and high school requirements, career paths and the importance of finding a mentor.

On day two, students participated in the "Ward's CSI: Who Killed Henry Ward?" Activity. This fictional tale of the tragic death of Henry Ward, based on the highly acclaimed T.V. shows CSI and Law & Order, allowed students to become detectives for one day and to use different forensic procedures.

"During the forensics' (CSI) day, we analyzed evidence in a crime scene. " Rodriguez said. "We looked at fingerprints, blood types and DNA. It was awesome!"

The next day, students visited the engineering and science departments at the University of Texas-Pan American. They had the opportunity to interact with college students who shared their experiences and motivated them to continue with their education.

On Friday, the last day of the CAMP, students worked in teams to built and programmed their own robots with the help of high school students, who volunteered as mentors to the 37 middle school students.

"Programs such as the ENCORE CAMP are eye openers for middle school students," said Griselda Quintanilla, coordinator of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department in Edinburg CISD. "We found out that this is the right time (middle school) to introduce our students to the different experiences that will prepare them for a better future."

But how can school administrators and parents be sure middle school is the right time to start preparing students for college?

According to the policy report "College Readiness Begins in Middle School" published by ACT, a national non-profit organization that provides information about education and the workforce, "to ensure students have ample time to consider and explore their postsecondary education and career options, college readiness activities should begin in the middle school and be reinforced throughout the high school years."

However, students are not the only actors involved in the college readiness process. Parents play an important role in their children's academic preparation.

The ENCORE CAMP also offered a session on college readiness for parents to promote the importance of becoming part of their children's education. During the session, more than 30 parents obtained information and strategies to support their children's goals.

"I like that parents are involved," said Maria Luisa Guerra, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Support Services at Edinburg CISD. "The parent component is very important and they need to get training. With this program, parents are taking back with them skills they did not have before."

For the past year, ENCORE and Edinburg CISD have worked together creating college readiness awareness among students and parents. Their efforts have proven highly successful.

"I am very excited about the work done by ENCORE and our CTE department," Guerra said. "We are planning to implement the (ENCORE) CAMP in five other middle schools. We understand ENCORE's goals and we feel connected to them, which is the reason why we know this program is going to work."

ENCORE is providing on-going support and resources to school districts and community-based organizations to become active constituencies in favor of college readiness. Initiatives such as the ENCORE CAMP provide students the tools and guidance to graduate high school ready for a college education and the workforce.

"This experience changed my life," Rodriguez said. "I can't wait to come back to the ENCORE CAMP next year."

For more information about the ENCORE program please visit www.getencore.org or contact Ernesto Villarreal, ENCORE program director, at (956)618-2828 or via e-mail at ernesto@tvcof.org