Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
Equitable access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is what Science Mill brings to Starr County through a partnership with South Texas College and Rio Grande City Grulla ISD.
Science Mill is a Texas-based nonprofit organization out of Johnson City, that aims to give all elementary and middle school students in communities that have limited access to STEM programs the confidence, tools and support needed to spark a new level of interest in STEM learning.
Now in its third year at STC, Science Mill was first funded by a $20,000 grant and now, by an anonymous donor who has seen firsthand the positive impact the program brings to the region.
In a memorandum of understanding (MOU), every summer, Science Mill pays for teacher training, a teacher stipend, one-week camps for elementary and middle school students from Rio Grande City and all curriculum, supplies and equipment needed to make the camp fun and successful.
“It was all serendipity when we met with Science Mill representatives and learned what they offered,” said STC Biology Department Chair Maria Cervantes, Ph.D. “We feel like this program came to us at the right moment. It has been so beneficial to our Starr County community in engaging students in educational summer programs and creating excitement in STEM.”
Recently, more than 70 elementary and middle school students participated in the free Science Mill summer programs at STC, immersing themselves in all things science from Biology and Geology to Physics.
Adelina G. Villarreal, Career and Technical Education director at Rio Grande City Grulla ISD, said every year the number of students who participate increases, and this summer, has been their largest attendance yet.
“This program has received fantastic feedback from our students and their parents. It’s really grown in popularity and we’re so thankful to be on the receiving end of this partnership,” said Villarreal. “Our students are gaining a newfound confidence in STEM. They feel like they belong. They’re trying new things, exploring new opportunities and igniting a passion within themselves that wasn’t there before.”
In addition to STEM, these students were also exposed to a college environment at STC, giving them an inside look to life after high school.
“Not only has this program created excitement for STEM, but also for college,” said Villarreal. “About 80-90% of students have never visited a college or university, so being able to be at STC for a week, using college science labs and classrooms, has been an invaluable experience that now has our students saying, ‘I can’t wait to go to college.’”
STC Starr County Campus Administrator Arturo Montiel, Ph.D., said being a host site for Science Mill and hosting these young students on campus has been a privilege and honor.
“This is a life-changing program for these students. It’s opening their eyes and their minds to opportunities they probably never thought possible,” said Montiel. “Every student, even those in our more rural areas, has the right to access educational programming in the summer, so it was only fitting that STC collaborated three years ago to host this program. We are an institution in the market to change lives through education, and we look forward to continuing Science Mill and working with our school district partners.”
Cervantes shares Montiel’s sentiment.
“Seeing how far this program has come is exciting,” she said. “We thank Science
Mill, our donors and RGCG ISD for their confidence in us and allowing us to host this remarkable program that is providing valuable lessons in science, research and scientific experimentation. We hope that we can continue offering this opportunity and expand it to even more students. This has been an ongoing effort that has been valuable to everyone involved.”
Information source: STC
