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Posted: 6/11/15

TAMIU’s Texas Academy Honors First Cohort Students

 

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A group of 40 high school students decided to jumpstart their University education last year by enrolling at the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Texas Academy of International and STEM Studies last year.

That student cohort has now celebrated its first year at the Academy and received numerous awards and recognitions for their stellar academic achievements.

At a recent Academy Awards Banquet, the first of its kind at TAMIU, students received awards and recognitions in categories including Cumulative Credit Accrual Awards, National Honor Society Induction, UIL Recognition, TAMIU Medical Brigade Participants, Reading the Globe, Exemplary Student of the Year, Student Council, Perfect Attendance, Student of the Month, Texas Academy Distinguished Honor Students, 2014-2015 Distinguished Honor Students, and Texas Academy Dean’s Honor Students.

The Academy, which opened its doors in August 2014, is an innovative, University-level institution on the TAMIU campus of highly gifted and motivated high school juniors and seniors focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and International Studies. Students in the Academy receive full tuition and books and enjoy all privileges awarded to University students.

Students have the opportunity to earn up to two years of University credit towards a bachelor’s degree (tuition-free) while also earning their high school diploma.

From Summer 2014 to Spring 2015, students earned a total of 1,249 semester credit hours. Students’ average GPA is 3.22.

Of the Academy’s 40-student enrollment, 36 have opted to spend their summer enrolled at the Academy in summer courses.

Enabled by Legislation authored by State Senator Judith Zaffirini and approved by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005, The Academy was launched in large part thanks to the generous financial support of Frank Staggs, a Webb County rancher and former public school teacher and principal, and of the University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center in Laredo through regional dean Dr. Gladys Keene.

The Academy is under the leadership of Academy Director and TAMIU Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Patricia Uribe.

The list of awards recipients is as follows:

Cumulative Credit Accrual Award: Roy Aldrich, John S. Alewine, Pablo Arenaz III, Analyssa K. Ayala, Leonel Baldazo, Haydee Barajas, Dorian Benítez, Derek Burr, Leopoldo Díaz, Maximiliano Díaz, Melissa Ferreyro, Gabriela Flores, David García, Mickayla García, Jonathan Garza, Andrea Hernández, Edward López, Paloma Lozano, George Martínez, Maegan Martínez, Richard Martínez, Angie R. Maxwell, Edgar Montelongo, Abraham Nuñez, Mariana Obregón, Sarah Ortega, Jesús Padilla, Tiffany Pérez, Adelie Perkins, Cassandra Ramírez, Victor Rendón, Adan Rodríguez, Giovanni Salinas, Carla Santiago-González, Angelina Sauceda, Luis Sauceda, Erick Treviño, Kassandra Vásquez, Talitha Wisner, and José Zúñiga.

National Honor Society Induction: Roy Aldrich, John S. Alewine, Analyssa Ayala, Leonel Baldazo, Haydee Barajas, Dorian Benítez, Leopoldo Díaz, Maximiliano Díaz, Melissa Ferreyro, Gabriela Flores, David García, Mickayla García, Jonathan Garza, Andrea Hernández, Edward López, Paloma Lozano, George Martínez, Maegan Martínez, Richard Martínez, Angie Maxwell, Edgar Montelongo, Abraham Nuñez, Mariana Obregón, Sarah Ortega, Jesús Padilla, Tiffany Pérez, Adelie Perkins, Cassandra Ramírez, Victor Rendón, Adan Rodríguez, Giovanni Salinas, Carla Santiago-González, Angelina Sauceda, Luis Sauceda, Erick Treviño, Kassandra Vásquez, Talitha Wisner and José Zúñiga.

 UIL Recognition:  John Alewine, Pablo Arenaz III, Leopoldo Díaz, Maximiliano Díaz, David García, Andrea Hernández, Edward López, George Martínez, Richard Martínez, Edgar Montelongo, Jesús Padilla, Adelie Perkins, Cassandra Ramírez, Victor Rendón, Adan Rodríguez, Giovanni Salinas, Carla Santiago-González, Angelina Sauceda and José Zúñiga.

 TAMIU Medical Brigade Participants: Mickayla García and Edward López.

Reading the Globe: Talitha Wisner

Exemplary Student of the Year: Andrea Hernández.

 Student Council: José Zúñiga (President), Angelina Sauceda (Vice President), Analyssa Ayala (Treasurer), and Melissa Ferreyro (Historian).

 Perfect Attendance Award: Roy Aldrich, John Alewine, Pablo Arenaz III, Analyssa Ayala, Leonel Baldazo, Haydee Barajas, Leopoldo Díaz, Maximiliano Díaz, Melissa Ferreyro, Gabriela Flores, David García, Andrea Hernández, Edward López, Richard Martínez, Abraham Nuñez, Mariano Obregón, Sarah Ortega, Jesús Padilla, Tiffany Pérez, Adelie Perkins, Cassandra Ramírez, Victor Rendón, Adan Rodríguez, Giovanni Salinas, Carla Santiago-González, Angelina Sauceda, Luis Sauceda, Erick Treviño, Kassandra Vásquez,  and Talitha Wisner.

Student of the Month: Adelie Perkins (November), Victor Rendón (December), Angelina Sauceda (January), Cassandra Ramírez, (February), Adan Rodríguez (March), Andrea Hernández (April), and Talitha Wisner (May).

 Texas Academy Distinguished Honor Students: 

Fall 2014: David García, Victor Rendón, and Carla Santiago-González.

Spring 2015: Maximiliano Díaz, Gabriela Flores, Jonathan Garza, Paloma Lozano, Richard Martínez, Mariana Obregón, Jesús Padilla, Tiffany Pérez, Cassandra Ramírez, Adan Rodríguez, Carla Santiago-González, Luis Sauceda, Kassandra Vásquez, and José Zúñiga.

2014-2015 Distinguished Honor Students: Analyssa Ayala, Andrea Hernández, Mickayla García, Paloma Lozano, and Cassandra Ramírez.

 Texas Academy Dean’s Honor Students:

Fall 2014: Pablo Arenaz III, Haydee Barajas, Adelie Perkins, Angelina Sauceda and Talitha Wisner.

Spring 2015: John Alewine, Pablo Arenaz III, Analyssa Ayala, Haydee Barajas, Melissa Ferreyro, David García, Mickayla García Andrea Hernández, George Martínez, Maegan Martínez, Adelie Perkins, Victor Rendón, Angelina Sauceda, Erick Treviño, and Talitha Wisner.

 2014-2014 Dean’s Honor Students:  Pablo Arenaz III, Haydee Barajas, David García, Adelie Perkins, Victor Rendón, Carla Santiago-González, Angelina Sauceda and Talitha Wisner.

For more information about the Academy, admissions requirements and deadlines, please contact Dr. Patricia Uribe at 326.2861, e-mail puribe@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 213A.

Summer University office hours are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday.


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