A&M International Salutes Local High School Counselors

Recognizing the powerful role high school counselors have in helping students to consider higher education, Texas A&M International University held a special observance of National School Counseling Week Feb. 7-12.

University president Charles Jennett said counselors form a vital link for students, providing them with information and support for their higher education decisions.

"A large majority of our students routinely credit their high school counselors when asked who they believed helped them most to pursue their higher education. We thought it appropriate that during National School Counseling Week we salute counselors' support of all students," Dr. Jennett said.

University director of enrollment management Ronnie Gonzalez visited counselors at campuses throughout the city, delivering balloon bouquets, University memorabilia and a thank you letter from Dr. Jennett.

"It was great to be able to visit with our counselors and share our gratitude for their efforts. Through our regular Counselors' Updates, an informal meeting with area counselors, we've been able to develop some powerful partnerships that have helped us to provide counselors with the information and support they need for students," Gonzalez said.

She noted that news of special University programs and outreach efforts has been widely communicated through local and area counselors and has impacted student interest in University programs and services.

"By working with counselors, the University has been successful in communicating the increased availability of local degrees, the dramatic rise in financial aide availability and special incentive programs like concurrent enrollment, Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) and the D. D. Hachar Honors Program, she explained.

"We're fortunate to be able to work with such dedicated professionals who believe in their students and can so richly communicate the importance of higher education. A great number of them are A&M International grads and can personally attest to the value of higher education," Gonzalez concluded.

For more information, contact the Office of Enrollment Management at 326. 2270.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu