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Home > Press Room > 2008 > Press Release
Press Release
LULAC National Educational
Service Centers receives Wagner-Peyser grant.
Funds will be used for the implementation of the
Texas Science Corps Programs.
March 13, 2008
For more information, contact:
Octavio A. Dominguez, (202) 835-9646 ext. 15
Lizette Jenness Olmos, 202-833-6130 ext. 16
San Antonio –LULAC National
Educational Service Centers (LNESC) will be
making an announcement Saturday at the Hyatt
Regency Hill Country leading to the start of the
LULAC National Women’s Conference on Friday that
it has been awarded a $490,000 Wagner-Peyser
grant by Governor Rick Perry's office. The
grants are given annually to various
organizations to provide workforce training
programs and are administered by the Texas
Workforce Commission. This grant will support 5
program sites in Texas: Corpus Christi, Dallas,
El Paso, Houston and San Antonio.
“As the educational arm of the
League of United Latin American Citizens, the
country's oldest and largest Latino membership
organization, LNESC is well positioned to serve
the educational needs of its target
communities," said Rosa Rosales, LULAC National
President. “We want to thank Governor Perry and
the community for the continued support and
confidence in LNESC,” President Rosales stated.
This marks the second year
LNESC has been the beneficiary of a Wagner-Peyser
grant. During 2006-2007, LNESC implemented the
Career Prep Program, providing low-income
in-school and dropout Texas youth with
pre-employment information and training required
for college enrollment and meaningful and
productive work in the modern labor market.
“It is critical to give
students a practical education experience,” said
Roman Palomares, LNESC Chairman. “By tying the
program experience directly to job skill
development, participants are given the
information and training necessary to opt-into
the college planning and preparation process.”
Based on input and evaluation
from that program, the program has been expanded
to include a major science and engineering
component. Renamed the Texas Science Corps
Program, the goal of the program is to provide
youth with science instruction and exposure to
careers in science, technology, and engineering
utilizing a curriculum previously developed for
LNESC by the Education Development Center and
sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. A
total of 1000 youth participants will receive
science instruction; science, technology, and
engineering career exploration activities;
postsecondary and financial aid information; and
pre-employment training to develop job and
interpersonal skills to secure part-time
employment; and gain insight into the connection
between education, jobs, and careers.
In announcing the grant award,
LULAC Texas State Director and LNESC Board
Member Roger Rocha noted, “This marks a year
long assessment of the original program. For the
past year we have been working with the
Governor’s Office on finding ways to increase
its impact and I think the addition of the
summer camps does that. It provides youth with
the opportunity to explore science and
engineering careers before attending college.”
The four week long summer science camp will
allow participants to learn from science
professionals engaged in research or applied
science at universities, hospitals,
laboratories, or other public and private
agencies. Students will also have the
opportunity to visit colleges and work sites
involving careers in science, technology, and
engineering and receive mentoring services from
graduate and undergraduate students majoring in
science and engineering.
“It remains our mission to
train all students to be life-long learners,"
said Palomares. “This program will do that by
preparing them for college and future high
paying careers in the workforce.”
* * * * *
Since 1973, LNESC has focused
on creating a menu of developmentally
appropriate educational initiatives. These model
programs are designed to help the organization
reach its mission of providing the highest
quality educational programs needed to help
members of the Hispanic community become
life-long learners and leaders. Through these
efforts, LNESC has contributed to the academic
success of 400,000 promising Hispanic and
disadvantaged students and has provided over 13
million dollars to nearly 25,000 students.
More information about LNESC
and its programs can be found at www.LNESC.org.
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