Participants brainstormed efforts to increase opportunities and improve outcomes in education for Hispanics
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, DC – (Laredo, TX.) – Congressman Henry Cuellar, (D-TX/28) helped cast the national education spotlight on South Texas during a lively discussion at Texas A&M International University that sought to create new educational opportunities for Hispanics. The event took place with leaders from the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH) and who traveled through South and West Texas as part of the Back to School Texas Tour 2013.
Congressman Cuellar reminded the audience that though Hispanics are the nation’s fastest growing minority group, their educational attainment is the lowest of any U.S. demographic. The Congressman highlighted efforts in his hometown of Laredo by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Laredo Community College (LCC) to turn the educational tide in favor of Hispanics.
“I understand the challenges families face in striving to provide their children with a high quality education,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Fortunately for us in Laredo, Texas A&M International University is an institution that recognizes the unique challenges faced by Hispanics, especially their underrepresentation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. I applaud TAMIU and LCC’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and competitive education for all students, with a support system tailored to their needs and educational aspirations. I thank the White House initiative for rightly highlighting Laredo as being on the frontlines of this struggle nationwide.”
The White House-sponsored tour through Texas served as a kick-off for the U.S. Department of Education’s “Strong Start, Bright Future” Bus Tour that begins September 9th in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The tour will continue through the U.S. Southwest and end in Southern California on September 13th.
“We are grateful to Congressman Cuellar for his unwavering support of TAMIU and for his solid partnership in securing numerous grants for us over the years including these three from the National Science Foundation (NSF),” said Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU President. “As we continue to work to increase the number of students pursuing degrees in STEM fields, these grant programs will help us prepare dynamic math teachers in our community as well as foster various educational and research opportunities for both students and faculty.”
WHIEEH leaders looked to use the event in Laredo not only share President Obama’s vision of the future of education in America, but also to get feedback from community leaders and stakeholders to shape education policy in Washington.
