Background: Pre-College Summer Camp


During the last two years, Southwest Texas State University has been involved with colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. As a result of this engagement, 100 students from El Paso and Elsa colonias completed a book of photography and testified before a congressional committee in Washington D.C. In addition, a documentary "The Forgotten Americans" premiered at the Smithsonian and was presented by PBS on December 14, 2000 to 62 million households in the United States.

The Pre-College Summer Leadership Camp is another summer colonia initiative developed to enhance the leadership and educational experiences of middle school eighth graders.

One hundred and twenty-five children were selected by their teachers from the following border schools:

Filemon Vela Middle School
Brownsville, Texas

Memorial Middle School
Eagle Pass, Texas

Edcouch-Elsa Junior High School
Edcouch, Texas

East Montana Middle School
El Paso, Texas

Salvador Garcia Middle School
Laredo, Texas


Summer Purpose


The Pre-College Summer Leadership Camp's purpose is to inform eight grade colonia students of the educational opportunities that exist, if they take core curriculum courses. The PCSLC will include leadership,algebra, English, physics and technology. The program will also provide students with academic instruction and career guidance. The University will include room and board, instruction, leadership opportunities and on- and off-campus transportation during the two-week stay at SWT in San Marcos, Texas.


 

Children from the Colonias were given cameras to document their lives in "Children of the Colonias Project: Through Our Own Lenses"

Participating Professors


Dr. Jaime Chahin      Project Director
Dr. Carlos Gutierrez      Physics
Dr. Robert Habingreither      Technology
Mr. Steve Medel      Leadership
Mr. Tony Montalbano      English
Dr. Harden Rahe      Leadership
Mr. David Rice      English
Dr. Max Warshauer      Algebra
Dr. Selina Vasquez      Algebra

Program Activities


♥ Participants will recieve seven hours of daily instruction in the subject matter
♥ Students will be exposed to career choices and job requirements
♥ Instruction will be complimented with field trips and films
♥ Students will participate in team building activities
♥ Students will learn to pattern a silicon wafer
♥ Students will experience college life in the dorms
♥ Students will complete a short story

Wait! There's more! View the students schedule and a few photos of the camp in action.

Classroom Schedule

Photo Album