TAMIU, Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo Launch Partnership Expanding Access to Space-Focused STEM Education

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo (BGCL), announces the launch of Mission Antares 1, a first-of-its-kind immersive STEM initiative designed to introduce young students to space science, engineering, and data-driven problem solving.

Set to launch June 22, Mission Antares 1 is a five-day, campus-based experience embedded within a four-week summer program running through July 10. The program will serve approximately 285 students ages 9–12, alongside a pilot cohort of 15 high school students ages 16–18, positioning participants along a continuum of STEM learning and future career pathways.

Developed collaboratively by TAMIU, BGCL, and school district partners, the program integrates Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-aligned instruction with High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and High Impact Tutoring (HIT) frameworks. Students will engage in astronaut training and team-based mission challenges, robotics and 3D printing in advanced lab settings, immersive full-dome learning in the TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium, and drone mapping and outdoor data collection activities.

TAMIU President Dr. Christopher Maynard said the University is proud to lead innovative partnerships that expand educational opportunity and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and leaders.

"Mission Antares 1 reflects our commitment to advancing STEM pathways and positioning our region at the forefront of the growing space economy," he said. "By engaging students early and providing hands-on, immersive learning experiences, we are helping to build a strong talent pipeline that supports both regional workforce needs and national priorities in science and technology. This partnership underscores the key role that Texas A&M International University plays as a driver of innovation, access, and upward mobility for our community."

Highlighting the institutional impact of the partnership, TAMIU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Claudia San Miguel emphasized the program’s long-term value.

“This partnership builds meaningful pathways to higher education and prepares students for the workforce of tomorrow," Dr. San Miguel said.

Speaking to the mission-driven nature of the collaboration, Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo Lifetime Director Memo Treviño underscored its impact on local youth.

“This collaboration elevates our mission and empowers young people to dream bigger than ever before,” Treviño said.

Emphasizing the global and experiential dimensions of the initiative, Dr. James O’Meara, dean of TAMIU’s Office of Global and Community Engagement, highlighted its broader reach.

 “This initiative connects students to global opportunities and hands-on learning experiences in STEM,” Dr. O'Meara said.

Framing the partnership as transformative for the region, Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo CEO Andrew Russell reflected on its long-term significance.

Pictured left to right are Memo Treviño, BGCL lifetime director, Dr. Claudia San Miguel, TAMIU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Andrew Russell, BGCL CEO, Dr. Christopher Maynard, TAMIU president, Joey Telles, BGCL chairman, and Dr. James O'Meara, dean of TAMIU’s Office of Global and Community Engagement.

“This partnership represents a defining moment for our community,” he said, “Together with TAMIU, we are opening doors for our youth to become engineers, scientists, and leaders in space innovation.”

Mission Antares 1 is supported through the Texas Space Commission’s Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF), awarded to Rice University, with TAMIU serving as a sub-awardee. The initiative reflects TAMIU’s participation in the statewide Center for Space Technologies (CSTx), advancing research, innovation, and workforce development tied to the rapidly growing space economy.

Through this partnership, BGCL plays a critical role in student recruitment, program delivery, and transportation, ensuring broad access and participation across the Laredo community. The program is intentionally designed to remain highly accessible, with a minimal participation fee that includes meals, transportation, instructional materials, and a culminating graduation ceremony.

At the core of the program experience is TAMIU’s enhanced Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium, including the Sonia and Memo Benavides Immersive Theatre, which offers high-resolution, full-dome presentations that deepen student engagement in astronomy and space science.

Mission Antares 1 also connects to TAMIU’s broader “cradle-to-career” STEM ecosystem, including the Future Astronaut Trail, a bilingual, AI-enabled learning experience developed in collaboration with global partners and NASA to inspire early interest in space exploration among young learners and families.

Mission Antares 1 is being launched as a pilot initiative with plans to scale into an annual program aligned with regional workforce development goals, positioning Laredo as an emerging contributor to Texas’ space industry pipeline.

For more information, please contact O'Meara at 956.326.2680 or email james.omeara@tamiu.edu. To contact the Boys and Girls Club of Laredo, please reach out to Magdalena Zavala, Marketing, at 956.722.6541 or email magdalena@bgclaredo.com.