Generation TX grant to promote college readiness in San Marcos

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
July 21, 2010

Texas State University-San Marcos and its educational partners have been awarded the 2011 College and Career Readiness grant for initiatives within the San Marcos area.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has awarded SOAR, in conjunction with E3 Alliance, $50,000 for marketing college readiness.

"With this effort, we are striving to appeal to this generation of students the importance of going to college," said Michelle Pope, director of the Center for P-16 Initiatives at Texas State University. "It is all part of the larger effort to close the gaps in educational attainment and eliminate educational disparities in Central Texas."

The grant will fund a marketing campaign in San Marcos aimed at the current generation of primary education students to increase awareness of college opportunities as well as the importance of a college education. The project will involve Texas State marketing students in the development of the media campaign.

"As a regional education collaborative focused on strengthening the economy by building better student outcomes, we work with many local P-16 groups in Central Texas," said Susan Dawson, president of E3 (Education Equals Economics) Alliance. "We are partnering with SOAR because of its success in involving the community in educational initiatives. SOAR is often our poster child for the good things that can happen when a community aligns it resources to increase educational attainment."

The project is a part of the state's new Generation TX initiative, a multi-year statewide effort to organize and mobilize entire communities to help Texas students and their families pursue the path to college and career education beyond high school. The grassroots, community-based movement champions the message that every student--regardless of circumstances--belongs on the path to college or career education beyond high school.

"We are excited that San Marcos community will be a part of the Generation TX marketing campaign to increase the number of college bound students in our community," said San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce President Phyllis Snodgrass. "As a Chamber, we are committed to increasing educational attainment as a key to the future economic development of our community."

"I am thrilled to see our District to be part of this opportunity. I think all of San Marcos students will benefit from the GenTX campaign," said Patty Shafer, superintendent of San Marcos Public Schools. "Our ultimate goal is to build a student 'movement' so that this generation of students all see themselves as having a path to college and career success after high school."

The Center for P-16 Initiatives at Texas State is a central location for educational programming focused on Closing the Gaps in Central Texas. The center is focused on promoting educational initiatives that create a seamless pipeline of success beginning in early childhood through college graduation.

SOAR’s Educational Partners consist of members representing Texas State, the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, San Marcos CISD, the City of San Marcos, San Marcos Hispanic Chamber, Austin Community College, San Marcos Education Foundation and United Way of Hays County.

For more information, contact Michelle Pope at (512) 245-9336.