Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – With summer ending, South Texas College welcomes its final group of high school students for the season, who are participating in Governor’s Summer Merit Camps hosted by STC’s Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships (CATA).
CATA is hosting the camps at STC’s Technology Campus with high school students from Sharyland Independent School District, who are participating in hands-on sessions with Arduino robot microcontrollers, as well as drone and airplane fundamentals.
Students had their first camp on Sept. 20 and will have their next sessions on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4.
The camps, funded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), are free to students in grades nine through 12 and include certificates of completion along with equipment such as drones and robotics kits to take home.
“This gives students a head start in technical education and some real experience before entering college or industry,” said Carlos Martinez, CATA staff and coordinator of the camps.
The Arduino camp has been created to teach students coding, wiring and robotics while the drone camp is set to introduce them to the regulations and fundamentals of piloting unmanned aircraft.
Throughout the summer, more than 170 students have participated in STC’s Governor’s Summer Merit camps, according to Martinez who also noted that students have come from six counties in addition to Hidalgo including Starr, Cameron, Brooks, Zapata and Webb.
“In the 10 years since I’ve been here, we have hosted thousands of students, and one year La Joya ISD sent us 600 students alone,” Martinez said. “This gives them exposure and fundamentals they can carry into their future.”
For Sharyland ISD junior, Patricio Gomez, learning about Arduino microcontrollers is offering a gateway into his future.
“Arduinos are very versatile,” he said. “They are useful for personal projects, and since I want to be an electrical engineer, I know these skills will help with future electrical projects and circuits.”
In the drone camp, McAllen Flight Academy Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) William Huber said he is introducing students to the possibilities of aviation.
Students receive a drone and certificate upon completion, and Huber said the camp can go a long way to sparking entrepreneurial opportunities.
“The world is your oyster, because aviation goes everywhere, meaning as long as you can speak, read and write English, you can fly internationally if you want to,” Huber said. “If you get a drone license, you can even make a business out of it, which can then help pay for your flight school or college. In aviation, you must constantly work to build your career and this camp is that crucial first step.”
For more information about CATA and the services offered, visit www.southtexascollege.edu/cata/.
Information source: STC
