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Posted: 6/07/00

Local Students Selected to Early Medical School Acceptance Program

 

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Five local high school students have been accepted to the Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP) offered collaboratively by Texas A&M International University and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

They are Brenda Chavana, J. W. Nixon High School; Nicholas Gallegos, Georgina Garcia, and Luis Lauriano, Cigarroa High School; and Elvira A. Mante, J.B. Alexander Magnet High School.

The students were recently honored during a special ceremony held in A&M International's Great Room.

Guest speaker for the event was State Representative Dr. Henry Cuellar. EMSAP representatives who attended the ceremony included Dr. Billy Ballard, associate vice president for student affairs at UTMB; Sandra Martinez-Garvock, director of sponsored programs at UTMB; and Dr. Juan H. Hinojosa, dean of A&M International's College of Science and Technology.

After the ceremony, a reception was held for the students and their parents.

The EMSAP program offers outstanding high school senior students the opportunity to enhance their competitiveness to gain admission into medical school. Participants attend A&M International during the academic year and spend four summers of specialized training at UTMB-Galveston. After completing their pre-medical training at A&M International, they will be invited to apply to the UTMB Medical School.

A maximum of 20 students from throughout South Texas were selected for this year's highly competitive program. The program is funded in part by the Hispanic Center of Excellence at UTMB.

One of the program's objectives is to increase the competitiveness of Hispanic medical school applicants. Students are chosen from the areas served by A&M International, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Texas-Brownsville and University of Texas-Pan American.

Students selected for the program are encouraged to major in Biology, Chemistry or Microbiology. All courses must be completed with a grade no lower than B and students must maintain a minimum science grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and an overall GPA of 3.25. Specific academic and personal counseling and financial assistance are available.

Summer programs average 28-30 hours per week and include formally organized courses, seminars and activities.

For additional information, contact A&M International faculty member Dr. Mario Garcia-Rios at (956) 326-2585 or contact Terry Lobo in the Office of the Dean of the College of Science and Technology at (956) 326-2440.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

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