Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 2002 Page: 2 of 6
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The Rio Grande Herald-Thursday, June 20,2002, Page 2
TAMUK receives grant for
Educational Opportunity Center
Texas A&M Univcrsity-
Kingsville has received $190,000
from the U.S. Department of
Education to create an Educational
Opportunity Center (EOC). The
A&M-Kingsville EOC will provide
educational opportunities for low
income, first generation adults 19
years of age or older who do not
have the academic or economic
resources to pursue a postsecondary
education.
"This is a five-year grant," said
Mary Gonzalez, director of Special
Programs at A&M-Kingsville.
"That means it was funded in the
top 10 percent of all grants awarded
by the U.S. Department of
Education."
The EOC will provide
postsecondary education, training
information and application
assistance to approximately 1000
residents in a six-county region
including Jim Wells, Duval,
Brooks, Kleberg, Nueces and Starr
Counties. These counties were
selected for service because they
have high numbers of low income
families. Approximately 35 percent
of the population of these counties
live below the poverty level as
defined by the U.S. Department of
Education.
Gonzalez said the program will
be coordinated with the ".'"iversity's
Office of Enrollment Management
since that office handles recruitment
and retention activities. She said her
program has the potential to bring
800 new college students to the
university, which would essentially
double the incoming freshman
class. For that reason, working
closely with enrollment
management is a key to the success
of the EOC program.
"This is very much a
Collaborative effort, and 1 think
that's why the grant was
successful," Gonzalez said. "We
were able to involve other offices
and areas to help ensure the success
of our program."
Thirteen specific schools in each
county were targeted to attract
participants to the program. In Jim
Wells County, Memorial Middle
School and Alice High School will
be the focus. Benavides and Freer
High Schools are the target in
Duval County, and Falfurrias
Middle School and High School
will be the target in Brooks
County. Three schools in Kleberg
County have been selected: KEYS
Alternative High School and King
High School in Kingsville and
Riviera High School. In Nueces
County, the program will focus on
Agua Dulce and Banquete High
Schools. In Starr County,
Roma Middle School and
Roma High School will be
targeted.
One focus of the educational
center will be to encourage adults
who dropped out of high school to
seek a G.E.D. through the
university's High School
Equivalency Program. Once these
students complete a G.E.D., they
will be referred back to the EOC for
assistance and advice regarding
college.
The EOC also will target
students who completed one or two
semesters of college work and then
stopped attending school.
The cznter will offer individual
counseling, client-specific needs
assessments and followup
appointments. The program also
will provide career workshops;
information on postsecondary
educational opportunities and
financial assistance; assistance in
completing applications for college
admissions, testing and financial
aid; tutoring and mentoring.
"The crucial tie-in is with the
university and enrollment
management for us to be a
success," Gonzalez said. "We have
to meet our numbers, and I'm
confident that together we will
knock on every door to get students
for this program."
The staff of the EOC will work
with public and social service
agencies in the target area to inform
the communities about the services
available. Four centrally located
outreach satellite offices will be
established to ensure accessibility
to the participants. The satellite
offices will be located at KEYS
Alternative High School and the
Kingsville Housing Authority in
Kingsville, the Alice High School
Adult Education and Coastal Bend
College in Alice, the TRIO
Program office at University of
Texas Pan American and a site in
Duval County that has yet to be
determined.
Four new positions will be
created to staff the EOC. Gonzalez
said she will be hiring a program
director, two pre-collegian advisors
and a full-time administrative
assistant. The positions will be
grant funded.
Gonzalez said she received a great
deal of support for the EOC not
only from the university, but from
the communities that will be served
by the program, especially when
she was identifying potential
satellite office sites.
"I got more than I needed to show
support in the grant," she said. "I
got a really good, positive response
from the community."
Three Girl Scouts honored by
Troop 558 at swimming camp
Three Cadette Girl Scouts from
Troop 558 recently held a
Swimming Camp for their Silver
Award Project.
The Girl Scouts involved in the
camp were Maribel Villarreal,
Angelica Cantu and Angela
Martinez. The camp was a great
success, with 50 Girl Scouts from
Rio Grande City participating in
this event.
A troop official commented,
"This would not have been possible
without the help of Mr. Roy Pena,
Commissioner from Roma, for
giving us permission to use the
pool. He arranged everything for us
and even made a roof so the girls
could be in the shade. It is sad that
our Girl Scouts had to go to
another city because they did not
have the support of the persons
who are in charge of our only pool.
In the past our Girl Scouts have
always had the support of all our
community; this is the first time
when they weren't."
The troop official added, "We are
also very grateful for the
tremendous work of the two
lifeguards who donated their time
for this camp. They are Eddie
Lopez, Jr. and Manuel Villarreal;
they were there from 8-5. They
never took a break; they were
always helping the girls and
making sure they were safe."
She continued, "We are also very
grateful to Mr. Philips from Burger
King for donating the hamburgers,
and to Bema Ice and their owner,
Mrs. Roceina Garcia, for donating
the bottled water and bag of ice for
us. We are very grateful for Mrs.
Armandina Villarreal, our Girl
Scout Director, and her troop who
helped our girls, and Mrs. Diana
Ibarra for all her support and help
and for taking juices for the girls.
We are very grateful to Mrs. Ana
Falcon and Mrs. Cynthia Alaniz for
their support and the girls'
participation in the camp."
"We were only able to invite 50
girls due to limited space," declared
the troop official. "We are very
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"We wouCd [ike to express our fieartfeft thanks to all our friends who
accompanied us during our time of sorrow. Your words of comfort, prayers,
masses offered and many other kindnesses are deeply appreciated.
Todas sus atencionesy muestras de afecto, especiaCmente su presencia
y amistad, Co recordaremos siempre con un prof undo agradecimiento.
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Top GMS eighth graders at commencement
The top ranking students in the eighth grade class of 2002 at Grulla Middle School were recognized at the
school's recent commencement exercises. Pictured left to right are Domingo Montalvo, third ranking student,
Jose M. Longoria, second ranking student; Sandra Lopez, third ranking student; and David Leal, top ranked
student. (RGCCISD photo).
Starr graduates qualify for
TAMUK presidential scholarships
Nearly 400 graduating seniors
from throughout Texas, including
five Starr County natives, qualified
to attend Texas A&M University-
Kingsville this fall under the
Presidential Scholarship program.
The three-tiered approach allows
the university to reward high
academic achieving students with
scholarships based on grade and test
scores.
Students who meet the
requirements automatically qualify
for the awards. It is not a
competition. The scholarships are
for one year and are renewable as
long as the student maintains the
qualifying grade point average.
The presidential scholarship
program has three tiers. The
Presidential Gold award is given to
top high school seniors who have a
grade point average of 3.50 or
above. They must score at least
1270 on the SAT or 29 on the
ACT. Gold scholarship winners
receive $2000 toward tuition plus
$2000 toward housing.
The Presidential Silver award is
for students who have at least a
3.25 grade point average and an
SAT score of 1130 or an ACT
score of $25. These students receive
$1500 toward tuition plus $2000
toward housing.
The Presidential Blue award is
for students who have at least a 3.0
grade point average and an SAT
score of 970 or an ACT score of
21. Blue scholarship winners
receive $1000 scholarships.
Heriberto Silva of
Garciasville, a graduate of Rio
Grande City High School, is a
recipient of the Presidential Gold
award.
Teresa Cantu of La Grulla, a
graduate of Rio Grande Ciiy High
School, is a recipient of the
Presidential Blue award.
Demetrio Rodriguez, Javier
Rodriguez and Amanda
Sanchez, all natives of Rio
Grande City and graduates of Rio
Grande City High School, are
recipients of the Presidential Blue
award.
Founder's Day 2002 celebrated
by local Beta Sigma Phi chapters
grateful to all the Girl Scouts who
attended this camp. It was
wonderful how well the girls
behaved and bonded with each other.
Eddie Lopez explained the safety
rules about swimming to the girls
and also demonstrated what to do
when you get a cramp and how to
float, and what to do when someone
is drowning. The girls learned while
having fun."
The troop official concluded,
"This camp would not have been
possible without the help of our
leader, Hilda Prado. We appreciate
Mr. Mario Prado for all his help
and are grateful for all the help and
support of our parents. Due to our
hard work, we got our Silver Award
which is one of the highest awards
in Girl Scouts. We learned that if
you work hard you can accomplish
all your goals."
Friends and neighbors can
work together to spruce up their
children's playgrounds.
Vv ■jff ■ A f * *
Texas Beta Eta Tau served as
host chapter of a banquet celebrating
the 71" anniversary of Beta Sigma
Phi Founder's Day. The event is
held annually on April 30 honoring
Walter W. Ross.
Nelda Jimenez, president of
Texas Beta Eta Tau. gave the
welcome to members: of five
chapters participating in the
celebration, held at l.B.C. Bank.
The five participating chapters
were Texas Laureate Zeta Theta,
Texas Xi Alpha Gamma Rho, Texas
Beta Eta Tau, Texas Beta Theta
Iota, and Texas Beta Theta Lambda.
All sisters in attendance joined in
the Opening Ritual following a
social hour during which punch was
served, and visiting was enjoyed.
The pledge of allegiance was said
prior to the Beta Sigma Phi Grace.
Following the dinner, everyone
participated in the reciting of the
Founder's Day Pledge, as three
yellow candles were lit, representing
Beta Sigma Phi. The message from
International was read, entitled
"Weave a Web of Friendship" by
Laura Ross Wingfield.
The message focused on the
unique experiences during this past
year, when everyone learned what is
really important in life, our
connections to others. "This past
year, we were reminded how very
important our connections to those
we do not personally know are.
People we work with, people in the
police force, the fire department, the
military were once again in our
thoughts and prayers...Keep
weaving a web of friendship and
make it larger and larger, the more
people we include, the better our
entire world will be."
Presentations of awards were
made and highlights of the year
were given by each chapter.
Outgoing officers and incoming
officers were recognized. Chapter
Presidents for 2001-02 were Elia
Perez, Texas Laureate Zeta Theta;
Velma Guerrero, Texas Xi Gamma
Rho; Nelda Jimenez, Texas Beta Eta
Tau, Estella Garcia, Texas Beta
Theta Iota; and Rosa Elia Gonzalez,
Texas Beta Theta Lambda.
The evening concluded with the
announcement of the 2002-03 theme
for Beta Sigma Phi and the closing
ritual, recited by all sisters present.
Roma High names
UIL Scholars
Roma High School has named
the UIL Scholars for the 2001-2002
school year. The UIL Scholars are
listed as follows:
Eseqtliel Alaniz, Jessica Elizet
Alaniz. Victoria Alaniz, Alejandro
Barrera, Alexia Ana Barrera, Nataly
Daniela Barrera, Regino Eliud
Barrera, Priscilla Bazan. Luis
Canales, Victoria Imelda Canales,
Edgar Ivan Castellano, Alejandro
Cervantes, Miryam Gallegos, Nilda
Maria Garcia, Victor A. Garcia,
Jazmin Garza, Mayra Guerra,
Adabel Hinojosa, Gabriela Lope/,
Lilia Martinez, Noel A. Martinez,
Jr., Annette Moreno, Lizette
Moreno, Daisy Munoz, Yancy
C.R. Orellana, Daisy M. Orona,
Bertha A. Pena, Dara Pena, Melissa
Pena, Jose Jonathan Perez. Loreen
Perez. Esmeralda Ramirez, Rogelio
Ramirez, Jr., Crystaleen Noemi
Rodriguez, Eliud Rodriguez, Cesar
Andres Segura, Jose Luis Sierra,
Jr., Judith Trevino, Jorge A. Vela
and John F. Zoerner.
—
—
c;necK uut
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America's Charities at www.charities.org.
The Aprilaire' Electronic Air Cleaner at www.aprilaire.com.
Sweet'N Low at wwvv.sweetnlow.com.
The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education at
www.special-ed-careers.net.
The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System at www.sentri
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UGueia'sJKitchen
RIO GRANDE CITY, TX ^ 9 I
Ph: 488-8020
Serving Breakfast from 6:00 a.m. 10:00 a m
Lunch & Dinner from 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Come By Or Call In Orders Welcome
Come try our Chinese or Mexican Food Served Daily
Ask about La Guera's Special for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
CALL IN ORDERS AHEAD OF TIME
□ La Guera's Kitchen
RGC-
Hwy 83
Roma
We have a limited menu but we keep adding items on a weekly basis. If
you have a suggestion LET US KNOW
The
Rio Grande
Herald
(USPS 466-200)
Pearl Austin Mathis
"ublisher
Published week
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 20, 2002, newspaper, June 20, 2002; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196169/m1/2/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.