TAMIU’s Julieta And Frank Staggs Academy of International and STEM Studies Graduates 51
A cohort of 51 students recently graduated from Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Julieta and Frank Staggs Academy of International and STEM Studies.
An innovative, University-level institution on the TAMIU campus, the Academy is designed for highly gifted and motivated high school juniors and seniors focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and International studies.
The Academy was created by Senator Judith Zaffirini and authorized by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005. The campus is on the TAMIU campus and students are fully immersed in University life, taking a full load of university courses in their junior and senior year of high school.
Dr. Patricia Uribe, Academy director and TAMIU-ISD superintendent, said she is proud of the graduates.
“I am so proud of our graduates,” she said, “They have completed their last two years of high school concurrently with their first two years of college and obtained many academic recognitions along the way. They thrived on the TAMIU campus and are ready for the next chapter in their lives. I have no doubt that they will succeed wherever they go.”
This year’s Valedictorian was Catarina Samaniego and the Salutatorian was Ingrid Villarreal.
Samaniego is the daughter of Lauro and Carrie Samaniego and the granddaughter of Abelardo and Diana Samaniego. She has a high school GPA of 105.51 and a cumulative University GPA of 4.0. She has completed 65 semester credit hours at TAMIU. She is a member of the University Honors Program and had two English 1301 essays signed to be published in an upcoming English textbook. She was also recognized as an outstanding student researcher in the Race in America UNIV class.
Samaniego will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio this Fall and major in Biology. This summer, she will travel to Florence, Italy with her classmates on a TAMIU Study Abroad program. She hopes to one day attend Medical School to become a plastic surgeon and help those in need.
Villarreal is the daughter of Luis A. Villarreal and Mireya Villarreal. She currently has a high school GPA of 102.96 and a cumulative University GPA of 3.882. Ingrid has completed 80 semester credit hours at TAMIU. She was recognized as the Border Patrol Youth of the Month for the month of December, 2018; Border Patrol Youth of the Year for Staggs Academy; Academy Exemplary student as a Junior and a National Hispanic Scholar.
Villarreal was accepted to the University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, John Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Notre Dame University, Baylor University, Boston University, Fordham University, Northeastern University, Pace University and Penn State University. She has chosen to attend John Hopkins University this Fall and will major in Bio Chemistry. This summer, she will travel to Florence, Italy with her classmates on a TAMIU Study Abroad program.
2019 Academy graduates are Zuriel JoJo Addo-Mensah, Sarahi Aidee Aguilar, Fabian Leonardo Alonso, Richard Michael Arredondo Jr., Christina Nicole Barrera, Sophia Judith Cárdenas, Eduardo Daniel Castillón, Jorge Alejandro Cavazos, Lucia Kristel Chapa Sanmiguel, Ernesto Colchado, Clarissa Dávila, Karla Veronica Flores, Alexia Marlene Gamboa, and Marisa Andrea Gaona.
Also, Robert Seth González, Luis Edmundo González, Arturo Isaac Guerrero, Judith Guillén, Claudia Adriana Gutiérrez, Pedro Guzmán, Elizabeth Aleyda Hernández, Eunice Hernández Molina, Cristian Alejandro Hinojosa, Asia Linh Ho, Austin Corbett Holmgreen, Arthur Edward Jiménez Jr., Robert James Kilburn, Shannon Elena Lewis, Ana Paula López, Skylah Faith Lozano, Yareth Lucio, Kevin Daniel Magee, and Roberto Mandujano.
2019 graduates are also Esmeralda Martínez Trejo, Karen Alicia Morales, Destiny Rose Justine Nielsen, Carolina Ortiz, Autumn Jyacinthe Paredes, Jeremy Elijah Pecina, Giancarlo Pérez, Jacqueline Anel Ramírez, Larissa D'Angelica Rodríguez, Jazlyn Nicole Salinas, Catarina Margaret Samaniego, Adriana Carolina Sánchez, Mikah Sánchez, Kassandra Ilyana Santos, Ilse Sofia Schumm, Ana Cristina Silva, Jacqueline Denise Vera, Allison Villarreal, and Ingrid Marcela Villarreal.
Students in the Academy receive full tuition and books and enjoy all privileges awarded to University students. They also have the opportunity to earn up to two years of University credit towards a bachelor’s degree while earning their high school diploma. In addition, they participate in research and collaborative educational opportunities with Academy partners.
Applications for Academy admissions are still being accepted for the 2019-2020 school year. Those interested may apply at www.tamiu.edu/coas/theacademy
About the Academy’s Namesakes
Frank Staggs, was born in July 1927 in Laredo to Frank W. and Gertrude Frizzel Staggs. His career spans teaching, insurance, coaching, ranching, refereeing and even bus driving. He studied at Texas A&M University for a short time before enlisting in the United States Armed Services. His assignment was to the U.S. Army Hospital Ship Mercy, which sailed across the Pacific Theatre of operations. After finishing his extended tour of duty in 1947, he continued his education at Texas A&I University-Kingsville, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science. He has taught in San Benito, Mirando City and Laredo and served as an assistant principal at M.B. Lamar Junior High School. When Milton Elementary School opened, he became its first principal and returned to Lamar as its principal in 1969. During that time, he began ranching with his wife, Julie’s uncle, Dr. Raúl de la Garza, at the family ranch near Oilton. Then, the Central Office came calling in 1972, and he was named Director of Special programs. Eight years later, he retired from education to pursue a career in the insurance business.
María Julieta Farías Staggs was born to Francisco F. Farías and María Julieta de la Garza Farías in July 1925. She graduated with honors from Martin High School in 1942. She studied Education and Spanish at what is now Texas State University in San Marcos. She taught school in D’Hanis, Texas one year and returned to Laredo teach at Martin High School, and then Bruni School. She met Frank Staggs in August 1951 and they were married May 28 the following year. They moved to Greely, Colorado that summer and returned to teaching in Frank’s hometown of Mirando City. She taught third grade while awaiting the birth of Frank, Jr. who was born February 1953. That summer, the Staggs returned to Colorado where Frank completed his Masters in School Administration. They welcomed their second son, Raúl C., in August 1957.
Laredo became their permanent home that fall and Julie began a 30+ year teaching career at the new M. S. Ryan Elementary where she made many lifelong friends doing what she enjoyed most: teaching. In 1987, Julie was selected to portray Martha Washington as part of Laredo’s Washington’s Birthday Celebration. Frank was her “George.” Julie was beset by Alzheimer’s in 2003 and passed in October of 2015.
For additional information on the Academy, call Dr. Uribe at 956.326.2860, email puribe@tamiu.edu, or click on http://www.tamiu.edu/coas/theacademy/
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Catarina Samaniego
Ingrid Villarreal