UTRGV inspires a new generation - The Rider Newspaper

University educates youth to make dreams reality

A UTRGV GEAR UP Family Summit was held to help students and families face challenges, build character and develop communication skills at the Holiday Inn Resort on South Padre Island August 2 and 3. PHOTO COURTESY Cristina Castillo — *A UTRGV GEAR UP Family Summit was held to help students and families face challenges, build character and develop communication skills at the Holiday Inn Resort on South Padre Island August 2 and 3.* **PHOTO COURTESY Cristina Castillo**

The U.S. Education Department is partnering with UTRGV to renew the university’s GEAR UP program for another seven years, as of September 2024.

GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, prepares low-income students to graduate high school and enroll in post-secondary education, according to a UTRGV official.

Cynthia Valdez, associate vice president for College Access and K-12 Partnerships, said UTRGV will receive a $4,215,200 grant each year from the Education Department to fund the program.

“The total overall grant the university has received is almost $29 million for the seven years,” Valdez said. “… The GEAR UP grant allows us to provide services to the students, their parents and their tutors.”

Targets for the program include 19 middle schools, 12 high schools and five school districts. The program will serve 5,269 seventh-graders.

UTRGV GEAR UP members attend the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships and GEAR UP Annual Conference July 21 to 24 in Washington, D.C. Shown are Petra Aguirre (back row, from left), UTRGV GEAR UP program specialist; Alex Alvarez, GEAR UP student; Ernesto F. Ramirez UTRGV GEAR UP director; Adrian Flores, GEAR UP student; Diana Carcano UTRGV GEAR UP academic content coach; Laura Mendoza, UTRGV GEAR UP accountant IV; Cristina Castillo, UTRGV GEAR UP assistant director (from bottom row left); Wendy Garcia, GEAR UP student; Yuliana Salmeron De Leon, UTRGV GEAR UP student; and Marlene Villarreal, UTRGV GEAR UP academic content coach. PHOTO COURTESY Cristina Castillo — UTRGV GEAR UP members attend the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships and GEAR UP Annual Conference July 21 to 24 in Washington, D.C. Shown are Petra Aguirre (back row, from left), UTRGV GEAR UP program specialist; Alex Alvarez, GEAR UP student; Ernesto F. Ramirez UTRGV GEAR UP director; Adrian Flores, GEAR UP student; Diana Carcano UTRGV GEAR UP academic content coach; Laura Mendoza, UTRGV GEAR UP accountant IV; Cristina Castillo, UTRGV GEAR UP assistant director (from bottom row left); Wendy Garcia, GEAR UP student; Yuliana Salmeron De Leon, UTRGV GEAR UP student; and Marlene Villarreal, UTRGV GEAR UP academic content coach. **PHOTO COURTESY Cristina Castillo**

Valdez said the university’s goal is to provide support for the community and opportunities for the youth.

“Being able to have this program in the school districts is preparing students early to have that dream of going to college and having a premier university, such as UTRGV, in their very backyard provides that natural transition to come to this institution,” she said.

Valdez said the program’s job is to support the students through their academic journey by engaging them with “different opportunities outside of the classroom.”

She said the Education Department releases new opportunities to apply for the GEAR UP program and universities can have multiple GEAR UP grants.

“If another competition is released in the next several years, we’ll of course continue to apply so that we can bring more federal funding to the region so that we can partner with school districts,” Valdez said.

She said university students can gain experience through the program by becoming tutors.

“The GEAR UP grant does allow us to hire tutors at the middle schools and one thing we will definitely be trying to do is hiring UTRGV students that would like to work in the school districts as tutors and mentors for our students,” Valdez said.

Cristina Castillo, assistant director of GEAR UP and a former member, said university students can help the younger generation through peer-to-peer support.

“I think it’s important to hire individuals that are closer in age so that they can understand more of what their needs are,” Castillo said.

Nutrition sciences freshman Leslie Ortiz said she did not have resources and information on university preparation available when she was a middle schooler.

“I would like to see that emphasis to middle schoolers more on how knowledge and learning is far more valuable than just having a good job,” Ortiz said.