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Texas A&M offers "jump start" college training to high school sTexas Lower Rio Grande Valley high school students are among teenagers statewide being offered a jump start to college training this summer. Texas A&M University is offering the free, four-day training to teach them how to get into college and eventually graduate. Aggie Summer Institute 2006 will also be offered at the university's recruitment centers throughout the state, including Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, said Tricia Givilancz-Cisneros, financial team leader at the Rio Grande Valley Regional Prospective Student Center in McAllen. The offer is extended to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The training for seniors will include an all-expense paid trip to the Texas A&M campus in College Station. "This excellent opportunity for students interested in attending college is being made available for the first time ever by Texas A&M, with a grant from the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation," Givilancz-Cisneros said. "The idea is to educate high school students to be better prepared to apply for, finance and succeed in college. And they don't necessarily have to be prospective Aggies. This is for students with an interest in attending college, any college." The first training session, for sophomores, will be held June 27 to 30. The junior program will be held July 11 to 14, and the program for seniors will be held July 25 to 28. All training sessions for Valley students will be held at the Joe Calvillo Career and Technology Complex in Weslaco. Training for sophomores will include information on understanding the importance of college, applying for financial aid and scholarships, maintaining class rank and GPA, resume building and choosing the right career. The junior program will provide information on preparing for college admissions tests, choosing the right college, financial aid, the admissions and scholarship process, budgeting and choosing the right career. Seniors will be taught how to apply for college and financial aid, writing effective essays, comparing financial aid packages, budgeting, time-management techniques, choosing the right career, and managing the college career. David Lee Longoria, a student at Rio Grande City High School, said he looked forward to attending the juniors' program in July. "There's nothing more important that I can do with my time this summer," he said. "There's a lot of information to learn about attending college, and any edge I can get at this training will be very valuable to me. My dream is to become educated and successful." Givilancz-Cisneros said while the training will help high school students succeed in college, the sessions will also include some fun activities. "We will be awarding daily door prizes. They can register to win an iPod Shuffle. Seniors can register for a scholarship drawing. We'll be taking field trips to local businesses, and of course the seniors will go on a free trip to College Station to visit the campus there," she said. The four-day sessions, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., are free and include meals. Sessions will be conducted by Texas A&M staff, former students, community members, business leaders and others. Only 50 students will be accepted for each session, on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit the Rio Grande Valley Prospective Student Center at 5237 N. 23rd St. in McAllen, or call 956-683-8647. Givilancz-Cisneros can be contacted at 956-975-7070. Applications are also available at some local high schools. ------CUTLINE------ Tricia Givilancz-Cisneros, left, financial aid team leader at the Rio Grande Valley Regional Prospective Student Center in McAllen, informs Edinburg High School senior Nancy Lynette Gutierrez about the topics to be discussed at the upcoming Aggie Summer Institute 2006, to be held this summer. Gutierrez is ranked among the top five graduating seniors in her class and will be attending Texas A&M University in the fall. (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station photo by Rod Santa Ana III.) Date: 6/22/06
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