College prep program gets funding extension

By Criselda Valdez

The Brownsville Herald

Ray Martinez, director of the Upward Bound Math and Science program at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, has a lot to be happy about these days.

The program was just renewed for another four years by the U.S. Department of Education and received more than $200,000 in funds for each of the next four years.

More importantly, the students who just graduated from the high school program earned a combined $246,213 in scholarships to attend college, Martinez said.

Upward Bound Math and Science, a four-year college preparatory program, began in Brownsville in 1999 to help students from San Benito and Harlingen prepare for college through tutorials, summer programs and workshops. There are separate Upward Bound programs to help students from Brownsville and Rio Hondo.

The program began with a group of 54 incoming high school freshmen from low-income families who would be the first in their families to ever attend college. The program pays for the students college tuition fees and books while they are in high school.

Martinez said he is extremely proud of the students, many of whom graduated from high school with college credits.

During the school year, the program provides tutorial classes for students. If students feel that they are not prepared to take college classes during the summer, it offers enrichment classes to help them with their high school studies.

Thirty-three of 54 students in the program graduated high school with at least three college credit hours, according to figures provided by Martinez.

Erika Lizbeth Garcia, who graduated from Harlingen High School, will enter her first year of college with 31 credit hours, classifying her as a sophomore.

Joanna Serrato and Krystle Zuniga essentially received full scholarships to their universities of choice. Serrato, who plans to attend Brown University, received a scholarship to cover her first year of tuition, housing and meals. She will continue to receive a full scholarship as long as she keeps up her grades.

Zuniga, who will attend Bowling Green State University in Ohio, received a full four-year scholarship.