Reprint from the Progress Times - February 23, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Mission CISD Is Launching Operation College Bound

By Craig Verley
Public Relations Director
Mission CISD

Mission Consolidated Independent School District, in cooperation with South Texas College (STC) and the University of Texas-Pan American (UT-PA), is launching Operation College Bound.

This is the first time a Valley school district has worked with the two major Upper Valley colleges on an intensive program designed to make sure all seniors have completed applications for both schools and also filled out applications used for most forms of financial aid.

On Tuesday, February 27, STC and UTPA officials, along with school district staff, will descend on Mission High School for a full day of activities designed to make certain every senior has completed those applications.

“We are trying to remove obstacles that tend to stand in the way of some students attending college," said Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez. "The paperwork can be intimidating to many people. Operation College Bound will give us the resources to better help our 750 seniors complete application requirements for the two colleges our students attend the most."

William Serrata, STC vice president for student services and development, said the program will ensure that all graduating Mission seniors have two viable alternatives for higher education, adding, "What an amazing accomplishment for the school district."

Serrata said STC is dedicated to ensuring the program's success. "We are devoting whatever resources MCISD needs and look forward to working with these students to take this important first step on the college path," he said.

The STC official concluded by applauding the visionary leadership of Rodriguez and his staff in trying to ensure a higher education opportunity for every Mission CISD senior.

Rodriguez said both colleges jumped at the opportunity to try this new approach in helping students make the leap from high school to college. "This is a huge undertaking by everyone involved," he added.

Dr. John Edwards, UT-PA vice president for enrollment and student services, said initiatives such as this help set the precedent that all students can attend college.

"Superintendent Rodriguez and the entire MCISD staff should be commended for their commitment to the future of their students," the UT-PA official added.

At the end of each of the two days, seniors should have completed their paperwork and also attended a variety of sessions designed to de-mystify the process of going to college.

In addition to the personnel the institutions will be providing, UT-PA and STC will furnish as many as 100 laptop computers to compliment campus computer labs for online completion of application forms.

In order to complete financial aid applications, parents must have completed their 2006 income tax returns. To assist parents, STC and UT-PA are coordinating access to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) on two evenings prior to Operation College Bound events.

VITA volunteers were at Mission High School Thursday, February 22, and will be at Veterans Memorial High School Monday, February 26, from 4 to 7 p.m.