HESTEc magazinE - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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the university of texas - pan american
HESTEc magazine
2014
hestec magazine 2014
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INSPIRATION
NEVER DIES
Since its inception in 2001, HESTEC
serves to increase awareness of Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) fields among students, parents,
educators and community members, and
increase participation rates of Hispanics
by boosting high school graduation rates
and postsecondary education.
We salute the students that participate, the
educators for their inspiration, the families
for their encouragement and the UTPA
staff and volunteers for their commitment.
Through programs like HESTEC, we’re
engaging a new generation of problem
solvers as we pursue a new energy future.
www.shell.us
hestec magazine 2014
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welcome to
hestec
hestec magazine 2014
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contents
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Teachers encouraged to inspire students
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latina day empowers young girls to enter stem fields
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da vinci machines in motion on display at utpa
visitors center
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Middle School Challenge sparks interest in stem fields
through hands-on activities
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teens learn their potential - student leadership day
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robots in the ring
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three generations of gear up students with a passion
for science: meet the gonzalez family from roma, texas
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bulldogs in hollywood
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using pinterest, itunesu as educational tools
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parents: you can help encourage stem curiosity
All photographs are copyrighted to UTPA
unless otherwise noted.
Individuals with disabilities wishing to
acquire this publication in an alternative
format, or needing assistance or reasonable
accommodations to attend any event listed
here, contact the ADA coordinator at 956665-2127 at least one week prior to the event
or publication distribution date.
hestec magazine 2014
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Start getting ahead of the game.
start in the lead.
Start moving up.
start coMManding attention.
Start learning more.
start taking charge.
Start out on top.
start strong.
sM
There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. By enrolling in Army ROTC at UTPA
you will develop leadership skills and earn an Army Officer’s commission after
graduation - two things that will help ensure you succeed in life. Army ROTC also
offers full-tuition scholarships to help you pay for your college degree. With a
start like that, there is no limit to what you can achieve.
To get started, visit goarmy.com/rotc/hestec
To learn more about scholarships and ROTC at UTPA, email Army-ROTC@utpa.edu or call 956-665-3601 today!
hestec magazine 2014
©2008. Paid for by the United states army. all rights reserved.
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hestec magazine 2014
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educator day
Educator Day Roundtable - Important discussions about our country’s education system were addressed by participants of HESTEC’s Educator Day Roundtable: Congressman Rubén
Hinojosa (TX-15); Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33); Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, President, Ad Interim, UTPA; RADM Raquel Bono, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy, Defense Health Agency,
Director; Dr. Roosevelt Y. Johnson, Deputy Associate Administrator for Education, NASA; Fidel A. Vargas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hispanic Scholarship Fund; José Antonio
Tijerino, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, on behalf of ExxonMobil; Ada Cuadrado, Process Engineering Manager, Shell; Laura Gump, Group VP for
Operations, Border Region, HEB; and Gonzalo Salazar, Superintendent, Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District.
Teachers encouraged to inspire students,
tell their stories at hestec educator day
D
by the UTPA Office of Public Affairs
r. Gerardo Lopez-Mena said it wasn’t high test scores that got him into medical school. It
was the strong desire to be a doctor and the teachers who encouraged him throughout his journey.
Lopez-Mena, who serves as a physician executive for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, shared his story
with teachers, administrators and other public school officials at The University of Texas-Pan American’s
13th annual Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week Monday, Oct. 6.
A native of east Los Angeles, Calif., LopezMena said he worked hard in school and joined
extracurricular activities to make sure he could
earn scholarships to attend college, since his
parents would not be able to afford to send
him on their own. Lopez-Mena said there were
times when he felt discouraged, but there were
educators in his life who supported him along
the way. It was their guidance that inspired him
to persevere.
“When I include them in my story, they are
responsible for why I am here,” he said “If we
don’t tell our stories someone else will.”
The educators also heard from Ada Cuadrado,
a process engineering manager for Shell, who
gave them three pieces of advice: make sure they
encourage their students, make math and science
real for their students, and tell them to never give
up and to be courageous.
“Please inspire your students to dream big,”
Cuadrado said.
In addition to receiving pleas and advice on
engaging their students in science and math,
the educators also attended workshops hosted
by various sponsors that were geared toward
helping them find new ways to pique their
students interests in STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math).
hestec magazine 2014
educator day
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Teaching the Teachers - Educators attending a session led by USDA’s Dr. Craig Wilson entitled
“Enthuse your students about becoming Future Scientists with hands-on, minds-on activities” where
they conducted a group experiment measuring the calories in peanuts using a small controlled fire.
“Please inspire your
students to dream big.”
Learning from Students - Another Educator Day session was led by students
from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Members of ACM, the
Association for Computing Machinery, explained the principles behind simple
algorythms, and how their dot method can easily be taken back to the classroom
to teach to their students.
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educator day
Teachers of the Year - UTPA HESTEC ExxonMobil Educator Day 2014 Award winners received laptops and a trophy in recognition of their excellence in the field of
education. Photographed with the award winning teachers are Rosendo Cruz, Program Officer, ExxonMobil; Dr. Laura Saenz, Interim Dean, College of Education, UTPA;
Dr. Zelma D. Mata, Interim Assistant Dean/Certification Officer, College of Education; The University of Texas at Brownsville; and Tina Atkins, Director, Region One
GEAR UP.
“
They have dozens of
exciting and innovative
ways to use math
for an exciting job in
engineering that pays.
”
- Andres Garcia
Algebra II teacher, Weslaco H.S.
Sylvia Vargas, a facilitator at Hidalgo Early College
High School for the Gaining Early Awareness and
Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a
federal program administered by Region One Education
Service Center, said she attended a workshop led by
NASA representatives who showed three-dimensional
models of various spacecraft.
“It would be great in the classroom …we couldn’t
put it down as adults, so you can imagine the kids,”
Vargas said.
Dozens of math and science teachers built a paper
helicopter and saw the tedious, yet rewarding, trial and
error process that goes into aviation engineering at the
“Naval Aviation: STEM Odyssey” session hosted by the
U.S. Navy.
Andres Garcia, who teaches Algebra II at Weslaco
High School and was attending his first Educator Day,
said he was looking for interesting ways to get his kids
excited about engineering.
“They are always asking me, when are we ever going
to use this math in our lives,” Garcia said. “Now, I can
tell them they have dozens of exciting and innovative
ways to use math for an exciting job in engineering
that pays.”
To read the full story, please visit http://www.utpa.
edu/news/2014/10/teachers-encouraged-to-inspirestudents-tell-their-stories-at-hestec-educator-day.htm.
hestec magazine 2014
educator day
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hestec magazine 2014
latina day
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Teamwork in action - Dr. Craig Wilson instructed mothers and daughters to work together to conduct a calorimetric experiment in the Latina Day session called “Becoming Future Scientists.”
He also spoke about his travels to collect data about various insects and bats. He shocked the women with containers of beetles and other “gross” souveniers like bat guano.
Latina Day empowers young girls
to enter STEM fields
by the utpa office of public affairs
T
hey are smart, they are beautiful and they
are highly desired in the STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math) fields.
Several hundred Latina high school sophomores
received words of encouragement and advice from
leaders of various industries at The University of TexasPan American’s Hispanic Engineering, Science and
Technology (HESTEC) Latina Day Oct. 8.
“Women play a mighty role in the economy, in
politics, in health, in sports throughout the country,
and we celebrate your contributions, we celebrate what
you do,” UTPA President Ad Interim Dr. Havidán
Rodríguez said to the girls, who were accompanied by
their mothers or other female relatives.
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latina day
They also heard from Dot Harris, director of the
U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Economic
Impact and Diversity, as well as from Samantha
Silvas (BS ‘09), license and renewal supervisor for
ExxonMobil, and Jeannette Castañeda, manager
of public relations for Time Warner Cable’s Texas
market. The women shared their stories of how
“
Please get inspired,
find your passion and move
forward with it.
”
- Jeannette Castañeda
“Take every opportunity” - Jeannette Castaneda, Manager of Public Relations for
Time Warner Cable’s Texas market spoke to the Latina Day participants about coming
from a traditional Hispanic family and encouraged them to find their passion.
they entered their careers and told the girls that
they can achieve the same success they have.
Silvas, who is the first woman to graduate from
UTPA with a degree in computer engineering, said
the United States is lagging behind other countries
in the STEM field areas, especially in the numbers
of women.
“Where is the next generation of American
ingenuity coming from...from you, the women in
this room. You can be the next person to create a
Facebook or the next texting app. You can create
something like that, that people can use and make
a difference,” she said. “I hope by some of things
you hear today that you are encouraged to create a
legacy for yourself and are inspired to keep growing.”
Castaneda, a first-generation American, said she
comes from a very traditional Hispanic family,
where parents don’t want their child to leave
home until marriage. However, she said she was
fortunate that her parents gave her “wings to fly.”
“They pushed me forward, they wanted me to
experience life and find out what moves me and
what my passions are,” she said. “Please get inspired,
find your passion and move forward with it.”
She participated in internships and encouraged the
students to participate in those types of experiences.
“If anyone approaches you with an amazing
opportunity, even if you don’t feel trained enough
to do it, experienced enough to do it, or you’re
scared, just remember fear is your only enemy,”
Castaneda said. “Take it and just worry about
learning as you go. We are always learning, no
hestec magazine 2014
latina day
matter what your age or how long you
have been doing what you’re doing.”
The teens and their relatives also
attended breakout sessions, where they
heard representatives from various
industries share their life stories of
how they achieved their goals. The
representatives also imparted words of
wisdom and advice for the girls to follow
suit with pursuing their dreams.
In her afternoon keynote address,
Harris reinforced what the girls and their
relatives heard from panelists at various
breakout sessions: they are smart and
they are wanted in the STEM fields.
“When I look at the fact that
women across the world are the most
underutilized resource and the things
that we need to do in this country to get
ourselves back on track, it is becoming
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In class with mom - During the “Becoming Future Scientists” breakout session, Dr. Wilson had the women
look into the simple peanut and ask questions to learn about how it grows.
Thank you for the discoveries
she’ll make someday
When you nurture the scientific power of a young mind,
you give a great gift to humanity. We’re very grateful for
your vital contribution to our futures.
Wells Fargo is proud to honor
University of Texas-Pan Am.
wellsfargo.com
© 2014 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (1209830_13007)
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Latina day
Keynote Speaker - The Latina Day Keynote Address was given by The Honorable Dot Harris, Director, Office of
Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy. She spoke about the importance of women joining
the STEM fields.
an economic requirement for us
to have support from all of you,”
Harris said.
Harris shared startling statistics
about the United States’ rank
among other industrialized
nations in students’ abilities in
math, science and reading. Out
of 65 nations assessed, the U.S.
ranked 26 in math, 21 in science
and 17 in reading.
“When we lose our edge from
an economic standpoint, that
becomes a national security
issue,” Harris said. “What I want
you to understand is, we need
you more than you can possibly
imagine....This country has to
have you at the table in order to
survive.”
Pharr resident Ana Barrera and
her daughter, Aprille Hernandez,
a sophomore at McAllen High
School, said they enjoyed hearing
the speakers. Barrera, who is
working on her bachelor’s degree
in rehabilitation at UTPA, said
what she and her daughter heard
today reinforces what she has
been telling her four children.
“It’s what I’ve been pushing
my kids to (do), always come up
with a career with whatever it is
you’re interested in right now in
high school,” Barrera said.
Hernandez, who wants to
study library science after she
graduates high school, said she
is looking forward to going to
college.
“I think it’s going to be hard,
but it’s going to be worth it in the
end,” Hernandez said.
To read the full story, please
visit
http://www.utpa.edu/
news/2014/10/hestec-latina-dayempowers-young-girls-to-enterstem-fields.htm.
Moms on Campus - The mothers of the high-school girls visiting UTPA for Latina Day were just as excited as
their daughters for the day’s events. While focusing on encouraging STEM, Latina Day also gives them a chance
to spend the day together and bond over hands-on science activites.
hestec magazine 2014
Latina day
Applause for Presentors - The
women appeared to enjoy the
breakout sessions, which were
wealths of information, from
how to pay for college to what
it’s like to be a female scientist.
Be different.
Break rules.
Unleash your future.
#BeMagenta
un-leash
CAREERS
tmobile.jobs
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da vinci
da vinci
machines
in motion
on display
at visitor’s
center
Leonardo da Vinci is a celebrated
painter, sculptor, musician, architect,
engineer and anatomist. Most known
for his masterpieces the Mona Lisa,
Vitruvian Man and The Last Supper,
da Vinci was also a visionary in
invention and design.
Machines in Motion presents fullscale machines based on da Vinci’s
designs. Each invention is life-sized
and fully operational. Visitors may
touch and set them in motion,
combining a fascinating hands-on
experience with an exploration of
the principles da Vinci employed to
design and create each machine.
The exhibit is grouped into four
sections based upon applications
linked to the elements–air, water,
land and fire–which held a strong
fascination for da Vinci. Exhibit
stations include inventions for the
helicopter and glider, the armored
tank, the drive transmission, the
printing press and the bicycle. Most of
the materials used in the construction
of these machines were available
in da Vinci’s time as well, and were
proposed by him in his codices.
These machines were crafted by hand
(using tools prescribed by the master
himself ), and then reinforced for this
traveling exhibition.
We invite you to explore the genius
of Leonardo da Vinci.
Triangular Power - Middle school
students on a tour of the exhibit during
HESTEC formed triangles over their
heads to compare the shape of da
Vinci’s innovative parachute to that of
modern parachutes.
hestec magazine 2014
da vinci
Students teaching students - Above: University student
employees of the Visitors Center helped explain the machines
to the middle school visitors, such as the simple cannon above.
Top right: The exhibits are hands-on, allowing students to see
the machines in action. This gear mechanism is still in use today,
as are many of his inventions. Bottom right: A middle school
student turns a chain, which would later inspire the bicycle.
The exhibit is on display at the UTPA
Visitors Center from September 29, 2014
through January 3, 2015. Admission is free
and hours are as follows:
Monday - Friday: 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Saturday: 9 A.M. - 1 P.M.
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middle school challenge
Middle School Challenge
sparks interest in stem fields through hands-on activities
by Karen perez, student writer
I
n an episode from the beloved children’s TV series,
“The Magic School Bus,” Ms. Frizzle takes her students on
a journey inside the human body. Students participating
in the Middle School Challenge got to relive the childhood
classic without having to shrink in size as they navigated
through the world’s only walk-through body and organ
exhibits presented by Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
during The University of Texas-Pan American’s 13th
annual Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology
(HESTEC) Week.
Students also visited the U.S. Army and Navy exhibits
where they learned about the many opportunities the
military has to offer and got to explore UTPA’s latest
STEM-related exhibit in its Visitor’s Center, “Machines
in Motion,” which presents full-scale, fully operational
machines based on Leonardo da Vinci’s designs.
“It’s really fantastic for kids to get the hands-on,” said
Patrick Polsin, a seventh grade science teacher at La Feria
Middle School. “There are a lot of them who are very
enthusiastic about wanting to come here to school now
and joining the STEM fields.”
MVEC had an “electrical power on wheels” trailer to
help demonstrate real-life scenarios on electrical safety
hazards, such as a kite getting trapped in a power line, and
provide students with safety tips.
hestec magazine 2014
middle school challenge
Middle School Challenge Activities: The MEGA Body Medical Inflatables gave students
the chance to walk through larger than life inflated organs, learning about their bodily
functions and systems.
Nursing students from South Texas College were on hand to explain the body parts to the
students, and give demos such as how to perform CPR.
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middle school challenge
Top right: Magic Valley Electric
Co-op gave a demonstration
about power line safety which
included students trying on their
safety equipment.
The Society of Physics
Students gave a magicshow type demo of various
scientific phenomena in
their “Physics Circus,”
such as how a student on a
bed of nails can withstand
a blow from a heavy
hammer, or how a simple
blow dryer can project
a roll of “science paper”
through the air.
Students were excited
throughout the presentation
and raised their hands
eager to be volunteers.
hestec magazine 2014
middle school challenge
“We are concerned for the community and I think that
HESTEC helps us establish that partnership and to make
the community aware of the importance of education...
particularly for education on electrical safety,” said Luis
Reyes, MVEC communications coordinator.
The University of Texas at Brownsville’s Society of
Physics Students combined science with fun as members
of the organization put on their show called “Physics
Circus” at the UTPA Library Auditorium. Throughout
the humor-filled demonstrations, presenters pulled several
tricks from their sleeves to educate and engage students in
physics topics such as Newton’s laws of motion.
To read the full story, please visit http://www.utpa.edu/
news/2014/10/middle-school-challenge-sparks-interestin-stem-fields-through-hands-on-activities.htm.
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Middle Schoolers in Action - Some sessions did not require students
sitting in a classroom. Above, a scavenger hunt of local flora guided by
Dr. Craig Wilson and a group of university student volunteers provided
the preteens some wilderness training like knowledge of poisonous plants.
Below: A middle-schooler gets ready to climb the U.S. Army’s rock wall
with the help of a UTPA ROTC member. The U.S. Army area area also
featured a simulation trailer and information booths.
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Lone Star National Bank &
The University of Texas - Pan American
From Starr County to Cameron County, from the Rio Grande
Valley to San Antonio, Lone Star National Bank is growing across
South Texas. Our banking centers throughout South Texas are
providing the resources and the expertise to help Texas businesses
grow and prosper, communities expand and invest in the future, and
individuals and families succeed in achieving their dreams.
Doing so has helped us rapidly grow to more than 2 billion in total
assets. Lone Star National Bank, The Valley’s Bank.
1-800-580-0322
www.lonestarnationalbank.com
hestec magazine 2014
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student leadership day
teens learn their potential
at hestec student leadership day
by the utpa office of public affairs
A
bout 800 high school sophomores learned what it takes to lead Tuesday during The University of Texas-Pan
American’s Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology (HESTEC) weeklong conference on campus.
The teenagers, from high schools across the Rio Grande Valley that participate in the federal Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), attended HESTEC’s Student Leadership Day, where they heard
from leaders of various industries and institutions who gave their take on what it means to be successful.
Among them were keynote speakers Marcus Luttrell, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who received a Navy Cross and a
Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan, and Dr. Juliet V. Garcia, executive director of The University of Texas Institute
for the Americas and former president of UT Brownsville.
Luttrell is the author of “Lone Survivor,” later turned into a 2013 film that depicted his story of being the only
survivor of Operation Redwing, a failed Navy SEAL’s counter-insurgent mission in which his four-man reconnaissance
and surveillance team was charged with tracking down Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. During the attempt, three of his
fellow team members died during a firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history.
After announcing he was a proud fifth-generation Texan in life and a “gunfighter” when he came on stage, Luttrell
described how a neighbor in his hometown helped him and his identical twin, who also became a Navy SEAL, learn
teamwork and the discipline to survive the very challenging SEAL training.
hestec magazine 2014
student leadership day
When he turned up late to a
training session the neighbor, who
trained people to enter special
forces, Luttrell said he learned one
of his first lessons in life after being
severely cussed and required to do
300 push-ups for his tardiness.
“If someone tells you to be on
time, get there 15 minutes early,”
Luttrell said. “Things always change
no matter what you do in life. If you
are that person who always comes in
the door late ... you are the weakest
link in the chain. In our community,
that can get someone killed.”
“Everyone in here, set goals for
yourself. You work at that goal,
achieve that goal and you feel better
about yourself. The minute you
stop setting goals for yourself, that
is when you start to die,” he told
the students.
Luttrell went to Afghanistan in
2005 and began Operation Red
Wing three months later. He talked
about their mission there and
the conditions under which they
operated, and how they landed in
the three-hour firefight that ended
in tragedy.
“What I have learned is no
matter how hard I have been hit,
and I have been hit hard, I got back
up and kept going on and eventually
overcame every obstacle,” he said.
Javier Hernandez (BS ‘94), a
math teacher for ninth to 12th grade
students at Edinburg High School
who accompanied 58 students for
the day, said Luttrell sent a message
of the need for determination and
self motivation by students to achieve
their goals. Overall, he said he likes
the opportunities HESTEC gives
students to meet successful people.
“It opens up their eyes to what
lies in front of them in real life and
opens their minds to start thinking
what their future is going to be
like,” he said.
To read the full story,
please
visit
http://www.utpa.
edu/news/2014/10/teachersencouraged-to-inspire-studentstell-their-stories-at-hesteceducator-day.htm.
”
“
If someone tells
you to be on time, get
there 15 minutes early.
Things always change
no matter what you do
in life. If you are that
person who always
comes in the door late
... you are the weakest
link in the chain. In our
community, that can
get someone killed.
-Marcus Luttrell
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robotics day
Rio Hondo HS defends title
at HESTEC Robotics Day
by the utpa office of public affairs
L
ast year, the Rio Hondo High School robotics
team competed for fun. This year, it fought to maintain
the championship it had won the previous year.
“My thought was to win and to make our team win
again,” said Martin Ramos, captain of the all sophomore
team at Rio Hondo High.
On Thursday, Oct. 9, victory came much easier this
year for Rio Hondo, defeating newcomer South Middle
School of Edinburg in three quick rounds with its robot
“Mantis” at The University of Texas-Pan American’s
Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology
(HESTEC) Robotics Day competition. Rio Hondo High
was one of 60 teams of middle and high schools that
fought programmable LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots
in the sumo-style competition. The prizes were laptops
for first place, Kindle Fire HDs for second place and
calculators for third place winners.
gave the team its own workshop to build their robot after
winning last year.
“We didn’t want to let them down this year,” Ramos said.
Their coach, biology teacher Christopher Gonzales (BS
‘09, biology), said the pressure was on for his students, but he
was confident they would come through.
“The students have a strong work ethic,” Gonzales said,
adding that team members spent hours each day for several
weeks building the robot.
To read the full story, please visit http://www.utpa.
edu/news/2014/10/rio-hondo-hs-defends-title-at-hestecrobotics-day.htm.
Ramos and his teammate Julio Jimenez said the school
hestec magazine 2014
robotics day
Competition day- Above, a student wipes down the tires on his team’s battle robot to give it better traction on the battle surface. The robot
made it to the final rounds. Below, a team gives a final inspection to their robot before the competition starts.
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robotics day
Intro to Medical Robots - Groups who had already been eliminated by the second round of robot battles had the chance to attend a session led by UTPA’s nursing program.
They explained the nursing profession and allowed the students to peer into their medical robots, which can simulate human symptoms, like fever and shaking.
Taking home the trophy - Rio Hondo High School took home the first place trophy for the second time. Their robot, Mantis, beat out 60 other robots. Each team member
also won a laptop as their prize.
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gear up
three generations of gear up students
with a passion for science:
meet the gonzalez family from roma, texas
by Melissa Lopez
Region One GEAR UP Specialist
W
hen the Region One GEAR UP: Ready,
Set, College! Partnership was awarded its third grant in
2011, Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Gonzalez could not believe
it. This meant that their youngest child, Gerardo
Gonzalez, would be part of this new cohort of GEAR
UP students. What is most remarkable, is that Gerardo
is the third generation from the Gonzalez family to be
part of the Region One GEAR UP program at Roma
ISD. Gerardo follows in the footsteps of his siblings
Amanda Gonzalez who is a 2006 GEAR UP graduate,
and Jesus Gonzalez a 2011 GEAR UP graduate, both
from Roma High School. Lupita Cantu, GEAR UP
facilitator at Roma High School states, “Working
with the Gonzalez family has been great. Mr. and
Mrs. Gonzalez have been extremely involved in their
children’s education. In fact, Mrs. Maria de Jesus
Gonzalez has been a parent volunteer with all three
grants. It is really quite a blessing!”
In addition to having three generation of GEAR
UP students in one family, all three have taken a special
interest in the area of Science. Through their GEAR
UP journey, all three, along with Mrs. Gonzalez, had
the opportunity to attend HESTEC which allowed
them to explore career options in STEM fields.
When asked about the impact that GEAR UP
has had on their family, Mrs. Maria de Jesus Gonzalez
states the following, “Gracias GEARUP por todas las
facilidades y ayuda que nos dan a los padres para poder
ver coronado el sueno de nuestros hijos de poder crusar la
Universidad. GEAR UP nos cambio la vida!!!!!” Mrs.
Gonzalez was introduced to GEAR UP in 2002 and
is still very actively involved as a GEAR UP parent
volunteer.
hestec magazine 2014
gear up
amanda
gonzalez
“
My advice
to current GEAR
UP students is to chose
a career that is cohesive
with their character
and never give up
on dreams or goals.
Roma High School
Class of 2006
University of Texas-Pan American
Class of 2010
”
Major: Bachelor of Science with
a Specialization in Biology
- Amanda Gonzalez
Amanda is currently working as a Forensic Scientist/DNA Analyst. “What inspired me to pursue this career was my
passion for science and my eagerness to analyze and objectively come to conclusions,” states Amanda. “My advice to current
GEAR UP students is to chose a career that is cohesive with their character and never give up on dreams or goals.”
jesus a.
gonzalez
When asked about his future
plans, Jesus states the following:
“Two years from now my plan is to be
employed as a U.S. Customs Officer
in the agriculture area.”
Roma High School
Class of 2011
University of Texas-Pan American
Class of 2015
Major: Biology with a minor
in Criminal Justice
gerardo
gonzalez
As the youngest of the Gonzalez
siblings, Gerardo is currently attending
Roma High School. He is an active
GEAR UP student who also takes a
special interest in the sciences. When
asked where he envisions himself in the
future, Gerardo states the following,
“My goal after completing my college
coursework is to become a priest.”
Gerardo’s dream is to serve others and
make an impact in their lives.
Roma High School
Class of 2017
Plans to attend Alabama
University and study
Science and Theology
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gear up
bulldogs in hollywood
lyford gear up offers 3 week summer camp
W
hat did you do last summer? The
standard question asked when school starts each
year is met with rolled eyes and a reply that usually
ranges from “Nothing,” to “I can’t remember.” As a
preventative measure against that type of apathetic
attitude towards the summer break, Region One
GEAR UP Partnership districts provided summer
experiences that made students sit up and take notice.
Lyford ISD’s GEAR UP program offered a threeweek STEM camp, June 11 - July 3, that included
career investigation, science and mathematics
instruction, and technology production. The
“Bulldogs in Hollywood” camp was developed for
GEAR UP students who are rising sophomores, but,
with additional funds, the district extended the camp
to include any interested student in grades 5-12.
The 17-day camp was based on Texas Instruments’
“STEM Behind Hollywood,” created by TI with the
assistance of the Science & Entertainment Exchange,
a program of the National Academy of Sciences. It
was designed to get students excited about STEM
education and careers.
Students began the camp with the module called
“Zombie Apocalypse” developed by Dr. Steven
Schlozman, a Harvard Medical School professor;
students investigated the spread of a disease through
a population, using zombies as a model. Through
a simulation by ENCORE, they learned the basic
functions of various parts of the brain and ways
disease changes those functions. Using TI- Nspire CX
handhelds, the students made predictions, interpreted
graphs, and used TI simulations to understand the
symptoms of a fictional disease and see how the
disease moves through a population. Following the
zombie unit, students learned the basics of computer
science and coding in a 3-day module, with emphasis
on foundational learning for a wide variety of careers.
During the last part of the three-week camp,
Lyford HS students experienced a TI “STEM Behind
Hollywood” simulation called “Earth Impact,” an
activity developed by Dr. Randii Wessen, Ph.D., a
space expert at the Science & Entertainment Exchange
and engineer at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The
simulation opened with a discussion-provoking depiction
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gear up
of the catastrophic events resulting from a massive
asteroid striking the Earth. In the activity, NASA
is calling for the best and brightest minds in math
and science to change the course of the asteroid
to avert disaster. Focused on use of mathematical
calculations using TI handhelds, students analyzed
data, made predictions, discussed results, defended
their reasoning and compared their findings with
their peers.
Finally, using a Zombie Survival Guide
iBook developed by Region One GEAR UP,
Lyford students used Apple technology to begin
production of iBooks focused on Math and
Science careers related to their study.
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gear up
gear up: only a tap away
using pinterest, itunesu as educational tools
Imagine a place where you could store all of
your photos and favorite sites, and share them with
friends and people around the world, and they
could do the same for you. Well, that’s the world
of Pinterest. Users create virtual boards based on
broad or specific topics or interests and upload
their own photos, or connect websites that relate to
that board. It’s an easy way to organize everything
you love online all through images.
On the Region One ESC GEAR UP Pinterest
site, you will find educational boards for students
on the process of planning, applying, and paying
for college and fun boards on college style and
dorm room décor. There are many resources
available for students and educators by content
area, including STEM, Math, Science, ELA, and
History. Additionally, numerous pins have been
collected for parents in both English and Spanish.
How to Access:
www.pinterest.com/
regiononegearup
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gear up
Whoever said nothing in life is free obviously didn’t know about
iTunes U. Through this iOS supported resource, educational institutions
can share content for free. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to
take a course at Harvard or MIT, or learn more about a specific subject,
you can find complete courses on the app, which can give you insight and
resources for research.
On the Region One ESC GEAR UP iTunes U site, students, parents,
and educators can find courses, iBooks, and video series on college and
career readiness, financial literacy, STEM, and innovative technology tools.
For instance, STEM & U is a course, complete with an iBook that provides
an overview of how STEM has had a profound change in the classroom
and is prompting the development of new career pathways. The course
focuses on answering the questions: 1. What is STEM education? and 2.
Why do we need STEM education?
How to Access:
Download the iTunes U app on any iOS
device, and locate the Region One ESC
GEAR UP site under the K-12 category.
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parents
parents: you can help
encourage stem curiosity
Of course we want children to have an interest in the sciences. But how can parents help encourage this interest at home
without being overbearing and boring? The best way is for parents and children to experience science together by making
discoveries as a team. Here are some ideas for you to try with your kids:
take a scientific tour of your world
Science is literally all around us. Taking a walk through the
park can become a scientific outing when kids examine trees
and plants, clouds, and animals. Get your young assistant in
the kitchen to help you identify the scientific processes behind
cooking - for example, heat changes the state of water from
solid to liquid to gas. Cooking also offers a great chance to talk
about proteins, carbohydrates, and all the elements that make
up our bodies, and why we need them.
Another excellent idea is to take them to a center
of science: a museum, zoo, or discovery play space. The
International Museum of Art and Sciences, or IMAS, in
McAllen has two such exhibits: “Water Journey” is a unique
hands-on exhibit that features the full spectrum of the
water cycle, while “RioScape,” the Rio Grande Valley’s only
interactive science playground, gives students the hands-on
chance to learn about water, energy, sound waves and more.
clean out the cupboard
IMAS is open Tues-Sat: 9am - 5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
For more information please contact IMAS at 956-682-1564 or
visit www.imasonline.org.
Who knew there was so much science in baking soda,
vinegar, food coloring, and other kitchen basics? Let the
kids experiment with water, ice, soil, bubbles, magnets,
and shadows. Answer “why” questions if you can, but half
of the learning experience is in letting them figure it out
for themselves. Afterwards, make cleanup a part of the
project; grown-up scientists have to maintain a clean lab
too, afterall.
Try the silly putty activity on the next page, and check
the web for more easy project ideas. Websites such as
Science with Me, Nasa Kids’ Club, National Geographic
Kids, and Smithsonian Kids offer so many DIY science
activities, you’re sure to find one to interest your kids.
Source: http://www.netstemhub.com/how-parents-can-assiststudents-pursue-stem-interest-home
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parents
diy: use science to make silly putty!
What you’ll need:
2 containers (1 smaller than the other,
preferably a film canister)
Water
Food colouring
PVA glue (a type of white glue also
known as Elmer’s glue)
Borax solution (ratio of about 1 Tbsp
of borax to a cup of water)
Instructions:
Fill the bottom of the larger container with PVA
glue. Add a few squirts of water and stir.
Add 2 or 3 drops of food colouring and stir.
Add a squirt of borax (possibly a bit more
depending on how much PVA glue you used).
Stir the mixture up and put it into the smaller
container. By now the mixture should be joining
together, acting like putty, crazy putty!
What’s happening?
The PVA glue you use is a type of polymer called polyvinyl acetate (PVA for short), while the borax is made of a chemical
called sodium borate. When you combine the two in a water solution, the borax reacts with the glue molecules, joining them
together into one giant molecule. This new compound is able to absorb large amounts of water, producing a putty like substance
which you can squish in your hands or even bounce.
Source: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/crazyputty.html
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