Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – For Javier Ramirez Jr., beginning his journey at South Texas College means staying close to home while he prepares for a career in civil engineering through a partnership between the college and Texas A&M University.
Ramirez is among the 36 new “Jaggies” who are part of the fourth cohort of the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at STC. The students recently attended a New Student Conference and “Howdy Day” at STC’s Pecan Campus.
The event introduced students and their parents to academic resources, program expectations and the community that will support them as they begin the fall semester coenrolled at STC and Texas A&M University. With his dreams set on one day entering Texas A&M College Station, Ramirez said his roots in the Valley assure he will one day return and build a stronger region.
“You really get to see how a small town grows and how you grow up with it,” Ramirez said. “I want to study something that will help me come back someday and give back to my community and my home.”
For Ramirez, attending Texas A&M has been a goal ever since he first visited College Station for a football game with his older brother, who later graduated from the university.
While he initially wanted to leave for College Station immediately after high school, Ramirez said learning about the Academy helped him realize the value of beginning at STC.
“I realized I should slow it down a bit,” he said. “The program still lets me be here at home and take advantage of what I have before I even decide to leave the Valley. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”
Maricruz Hinojosa, project manager with the Texas A&M Engineering Academies Program, said some members of the incoming cohort have spent as long as two years preparing for admission.
Hinojosa said the new jaggies now enter an entirely new world that will require them developing new study groups for math and physics courses, while creating more activities outside of the classroom to strengthen the bond with their peers.
“Today we celebrate that they are in, and that they made it, but now is the true beginning of their journey,” she said. “Engineering, math and science are going to be challenging, so we are going to provide the support services that will help them excel in the academy.”
For Hinojosa, the academy offers students an opportunity to begin an Aggie engineering degree locally, reduce costs and build a strong academic foundation before transitioning to College Station or Texas A&M’s Higher Education Center in McAllen, with an automatic acceptance into one of A&M’s highly competitive engineering programs.
“These students are close to their support system for a little longer before they head out,” she said. “Through it all, we are here to serve them.”
The importance of community was emphasized by Hiram Moya, a member of the Academy’s first-ever cohort and who was attending the new student orientation to motivate the new jaggies. Moya is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering at Texas A&M in College Station.
He also serves as an Engineering Academies ambassador for South Texas and helps recruit and mentor students, including those who are the first in their families to attend college.
Moya’s message to the new jaggies is to communicate, manage their time and avoid isolating themselves when challenges arise.
“The biggest thing I will tell anyone in the academy is that you will find your group of friends and you will stay with them for the rest of your college career,” Moya said. “Engineering is hard, but we can go through those hardships together.”
Among the parents attending the new student orientation, Carla Rodriguez, executive director of STC’s Office of Sponsored Initiatives, said her son Dante was benefitting from the extra support at home before deciding to finish his degree in College Station.
“This pathway is perfect for him because it will support him and prepare him for the experience of attending college when he is away from home,” Rodriguez said. “This is an incredible benefit not only for my son, but for prospective engineering students throughout the Rio Grande Valley.”
For more information about Texas A&M’s Engineering Academy at STC, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/partners/tamu-engineering/.
Information source: STC
