Area Children 'Saddle Up' to invade TAMIU this March

A stampede of sorts will be happening at Texas A&M International University during the first two weeks in March. The Office of Enrollment Management and School Relations (EMSR) will be launching "Student Awareness of Dustdevil Learning Experience with Unlimited Possibilities" or "SADDLE UP Days," offering Laredo's fourth and seventh grade students information and workshops to help them plan on higher education.

Jerry Alva, associate director of EMSR, said more than 1,600 students will visit the campus, including Cuellar, Trautmann, Bruni, Dovalina, Muller, Pérez, Santo Nino, Juarez-Lincoln, Nye, Kawas, JC Martin, Colonel Santos Benavides, Tarver, Leyendecker, Heights and Finley Elementary Schools, and Gonzalez, Christian, Cigarroa and Washington Middle Schools.

"The college-planning activities will include ideas on how to begin and end an academic term as well as offering suggestions, advice, and observations that will support and lead them to dream about and plan for their futures," he explained.

He said the workshops will be informative and run by volunteers from TAMIU Enrollment Services, the First Year Success Program and the College of Education.

" 'Giddy-Up: Gallopin' toward your Future,' which discusses the importance of goal-setting and college majors and how they relate to careers, will be one workshop," said Alva, "Another will be 'The Gold Rush -- Rustle up some savings for higher education.' Every coin and dollar counts for the day our students begin college. Though students might be tempted to spend their savings before they reach TAMIU, we will remind them that a college education is a great investment for their future. Every bit counts!"

For more information, please contact the Office of Enrollment Management and School Relations at 326.2270, visit offices in the Student Center, room 126 or e-mail jerry@tamiu.edu.

University offices are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 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