(Laredo)—Two Texas A&M International University GEAR UP students placed fifth among 32 middle school students at the Texas Science Olympiad held at College Station in April. GearUP is a national initiative aimed at encouraging high school students to pursue post-secondary education.
Jesus Pulido and Rudy Durón, Dr. J.G. Cigarroa Middle School students, placed fifth out of 32 middle schools in design and operation of a wooden catapult.
Ten TAMIU GEAR UP students competed at the state-level competition. They competed in groups of two in events such as meteorology, number sense and identification of insects.
“These GEAR UP students will comprise the graduating class of 2011. Next year, the GEAR UP program will be housed at Dr. Leo Cigarroa High School in order to follow this group until graduation. Sandra Rodríguez, GEAR UP site coordinator, will oversee GEAR UP activities at Cigarroa High School including parent workshops and summer camps,” said Beatriz Salinas-Riojas, project director.
In March, the team placed at the regional Olympiad held at TAMIU. Students Roel Orduño and Eduardo Molina placed third in the meteorology competition and Pulido and Durón placed third in the catapult division. Orduño and Nancy Pacheco placed second in the math competition.
The students and their coach, Verónica Pérez, were sponsored by TAMIU’s GEAR UP II “Creating A Vision” project that ensures local area youth participate in college prep activities.
“Creating a Vision” is a local program directed by the TAMIU Office of Special Programs that works with a group of seventh graders until they reach 12th grade. The program focuses on early intervention and college prep. 