TAMIU Gets Two New Computer Engineering Endowments from Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation
You might say computer engineering at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has just been super-charged.
On Wednesday, July 28, 2021, the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (Foundation) announced two new Endowments at TAMIU totaling $1.5 million dollars in a presentation at TAMIU’s Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library Colonnade.
The Endowments will be used to fund a Professorship in Computer Engineering and a Computer Engineering Scholarship Endowment said TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz.
“Endowments of this magnitude are simply keystone events that help secure a program’s potential for continued excellence and growth. The study of Computer Engineering at TAMIU is consistently one of our most requested areas of student interest. These Endowments will help to sustain that interest and degree pursuit, and help us accelerate the program’s planned growth,” Dr. Arenaz observed.
James E. Moore, Foundation Board chair, said the Endowments to TAMIU are a strong reflection of its larger mission in the Rio-South Texas area.
“The Rio South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation Inc. is all about fueling inspiration, driving innovation and investing in our region’s future. We can think of no better way to affirm that than by providing this University and its students the opportunity to thrive in Rio-South Texas and drive forward the brightest future possible for our counties and communities,” Moore said.
The Foundation is an extension of the 45-year legacy of the South Texas Higher Education Authority, which helped hundreds of thousands of students and their families achieve the dream of higher education through low-cost financing and funding of millions of dollars in scholarships.
It transitioned to the Foundation in 2019, adopting a new mission “to ensure residents acquire skills and knowledge and have access to economic opportunities to enable them to pursue meaningful careers and live prosperous lives in Rio South Texas.” It is a proud part of the Rio South Texas Alliance,a new, regional economic development alliance established with partners the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP) and the Rio South Texas Economic Council (Foundation).
Along with the private business community, the Foundation hopes to lead economic and talent development efforts throughout the seven-county Rio-South Texas region including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata counties inclusive of municipios on the southern riverbank.
Laredo’s long-time linkage to the Foundation and its history was also noted and celebrated Wednesday with the recognition of local catalysts in that history. The late Laredo City Mayor J. C. Martin, Jr., was founder of COSTEP. Also recognized was Alberto Magnon, Jr., who followed Mayor Martin on the COSTEP Board. Local philanthropist Cliffe Killam continues the Laredo legacy with the Foundation by currently serving on the COSTEP Board.
For more on the Foundation, visit rstef.org, email info@riosouthtexasecdf.org, or call 956.971.3304.
TAMIU’s School of Engineering now offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Engineering and a Bachelor’s of Science in Petroleum Engineering. To learn more, contact the School of Engineering at 956.326.2446 or click on tamiu.edu/coas/soen. See an informative video on Computer Engineering here.
TAMIU Fall 2021 Registration is now underway. For detailed registration information, visit go.tamiu.edu/registration21
TAMIU’s Fall 2021 plans are focused on a return to a full and vibrant on-campus experience for all students, faculty and staff at its 300-acre northeast Laredo campus. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. In a pilot program offered this Fall, TAMIU Books IncludED, all TAMIU required textbooks and course materials are free of charge to degree-seeking students.
For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 956.326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the University Success Center, suite 121.
