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Via the University of Texas at El Paso second annual Operation College Bound enrollment services, officials disbursed more than $560,000 in scholarships to Socorro Independent School District seniors.

The UTEP Scholars Excellence Program scholarships ranged from $4,000 to $32,000. About 15,000 incoming college freshmen applied for the UTEP scholarships this year.

The top school in the district and one of the highest in Region 19 was Montwood High School with $122,000 and 27 scholarship recipients.

El Dorado and Americas high schools each had $95,000 in scholarship funds and 22 recipients. Pebble Hills High School earned $91,000 and had 20 students, followed by Eastlake High School with $87,000 and 18 scholarships, and Socorro High School with $75,000 and 16 scholarship recipients.

SISD does excellent in earning UTEP scholarships, said Tammi Mackeben, SISD’s director of guidance and counseling.

“We are very proud of all our students who applied,” Mackeben said. “It takes a lot of work and ambition, so we are really excited for them for getting out there and applying for those scholarships.”

Alisa Rowe, a student at Pebble Hills, had planned to attend another college, but once she received a UTEP scholarship, the senior started thinking about becoming a Miner.

“This is exciting,” said Rowe, who wants to be an aerospace engineer. “I really wasn’t expecting this. I have a lot to consider now.”

Jose Caballero, a senior at Montwood, also wants to follow in the same profession. He is thankful for the scholarship from UTEP.

“This is a celebration for our 27 seniors, including myself, who received scholarships,” Caballero said. “This is just a testament to show how much here at Montwood we really work and how much we push ourselves. It feels really great. It’s a great honor.”

Megan Mack also was happy to receive a scholarship from UTEP.

“It’s reassuring that I can attend UTEP and have it paid for and covered,” she said. “It would have been difficult otherwise.”

For many students, the scholarships are vital, Mackeben said.

“One of the biggest barriers for students that keeps them from going to college is money, of course,” she said. “So, for the students to receive these scholarships, it is extremely important because we can assure they have the money to go.”

But finances should never be a reason a student does not attend a postsecondary education institution, Mackeben said. There are many ways to get help.

“Students can apply for scholarships still now,” she said. “There are many scholarships that are still available for them. And they can apply for scholarships every single year of their college career. There are so many opportunities to help students. They can talk to any counselor and get help.”

On Monday, officials with the Socorro Independent School District, in partnership with El Paso Community College and The University of Texas at El Paso, announced the dates for their Operation College Bound enrollment services for seniors this spring at all six comprehensive high schools in the district.

“Our priority for every student in Team SISD is to ensure they are college and career ready. This incredible partnership with EPCC and UTEP gives our seniors a head start to enrolling in postsecondary education and helps them move forward to make their college and career dreams a reality,” said SISD Superintendent José Espinoza, Ed.D. “In Team SISD, we treat and educate all students as if they are our own children, and I am proud we can provide this service so they can be prepared for the future.”

Socorro Independent School District seniors will be able to finalize the enrollment process to attend El Paso Community College and register for new student orientation for The University of Texas at El Paso at their own high schools on March 26 and April 1 through 5.

The event premiered last year at SISD high schools to provide on-site enrollment services directly to the students at their campuses. It was the first time the process was conducted in any school district in the region.

The Operation College Bound event gives SISD seniors the ease and convenience to enroll in college in a familiar environment with assistance from representatives from the college and university.

The seniors at every comprehensive high school in SISD will attend an enrollment day at their school.

They will be led through the enrollment process, which will be set up in the gyms, classrooms and computer labs at the schools. The EPCC and UTEP staff will guide the students through the process and answer questions. SISD high school administrators and counselors also will assist with the events.

“EPCC is proud to partner with the school districts and UTEP to ensure graduating seniors in our region go to college,” EPCC President Dr. William Serrata said. “Operation College Bound helps students enroll and receive the information they need to make a successful transition from high school to higher education.”

UTEP will be available to talk with students about the transition from high school to college, answer any questions that students may have, and offer information about new student orientation, financial aid, housing, student life and student engagement.

The event also will include a showcase of UTEP programs to highlight exciting academic opportunities that students may pursue while attending the university.

“The University of Texas at El Paso is dedicated to providing access to higher education opportunities for all students in the community we serve,” said UTEP President Diana Natalicio.

“As a top tier research university, our academic programs are highly competitive, ensuring our success in preparing UTEP students to play leadership roles in their fields of study. Our Operation College Bound partnership with the El Paso Community College and the Socorro Independent School District reaffirms our shared commitment to build a solid educational foundation for young people in our region, from PreK through graduate school.”

The first event will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 26 at Socorro High School, 10150 Alameda Avenue.  The other Operation College Bound registration days will be:

April 1 at Eastlake High School

April 2 at Americas High School

April 3 at Montwood High School

April 4 at El Dorado High School

April 5 at Pebble Hills High School

With its refreshed, laser-sharp focus on creating a college-going culture via Operation College Bound, Socorro ISD is seeing significantly more students taking Advanced Placement courses and earning college credit through exams now than what was seen just three years ago.

This year, 1,551 students took an AP exam – an increase of 38 percent over participation in 2013. Team SISD students are also taking more advanced courses; the total amount of exams taken increased 27 percent, from 1,927 in 2013 to 2,444 in 2015.

“This is great news for Team SISD,” said Dr. José Espinoza, superintendent of schools. “We are committed to providing our students with every possible opportunity to prepare for and succeed in college and to have so many students take advantage of this program is outstanding. The fact that they are willing and able to succeed is inspiring and affirmation that we are headed in the right direction.”

In 2015, 532 exams given to SISD high school students were scored high enough to qualify for college credit through the program. That is an increase of 21 percent from 2013.

“These students have a head start on their competition when they graduate,” Espinoza continued. “Not only do they leave us with the preparation and confidence to perform at the next level, they save time and money in converting their dream of graduating from college into reality.”

The district’s push to build the Advanced Placement program is part of Operation College Bound launched by Dr. Espinoza in 2014. The OCB mission is to increase college and career awareness for all Team SISD students and promote a “Yes I Can!” attitude about attending post-secondary institutions.

To increase participation and students’ success, the district is working to identify students who are likely to do well in the AP program. Using research, including PSAT scores which the district pays for, administrators are able to match students with subjects in which they are prepared for and likely to be successful.

“Our students are ready and prepared, it’s now incumbent on us as educators to guide and support them so they graduate ready to beat the odds and WIN,” Dr. Espinoza said.

Author: Socorro ISD