Hard work pays off; TAMIU receives grants

          On Wed. Oct. 20, 2010, Congressman Henry Cuellar presented two grants totaling $6,061,035 for the Engaging Sophomores/Graduation Project (ES/GP) and the Graduate Retention Enhancement (GRE) academic programs at Texas A&M International University. The event took place at TAMIU's Western Hemispheric Trade Center lobby. For the announcement, TAMIU faculty and students joined Congressman Cuellar.

          The Engaging Sophomores/Graduation Roadmap Project will help increase academic success of TAMIU's low-income student population as well as the Hispanic population. The project will assist the university's increasing students' success by strengthening sophomore counseling support services and assessing the academic experience.

          The Graduate Retention Enhancement program is working to increase the number of Hispanic students who are pursuing and completing their graduate degree or who are aspiring towards a professional career in behavioral, biological or mathematical sciences. The GRE plans to achieve these goals through assistantships which will provide financial assistance, faculty mentorship, research capability improvement, and opportunities in which students will be able to interact with guest scientists and mathematicians.

          In reference to the grant, Dr. Pablo Arenaz, TAMIU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said, "TAMIU is grateful to Congressman Cuellar for helping us." Dr. Arenaz also stated that the funding would significantly raise numerous opportunities for undergraduate students as well graduate students. When asked how the grant would help the ES/GR program, Dr. Arenaz expressed, "The Engaging Sophomores/Graduation Roadmap Grant will serve to develop projects and activities that will result in increasing the retention rate of University sophomores." Dr. Arenaz went on to say, "The Graduate Retention Enhancement Grant will assist us in increasing the number of Hispanic students who complete a graduate degree.

          Fore more information you may contact University's Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at (956) 326-2180, visit their offices at the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library in room 268 or email them at prmis@tamiu.edu.

(Evelyn Perez may be reached at june713@dusty.tamiu.edu