1999 Houston PREP Accomplishments
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Up to Accomplishments

• In 1999, due to the large response of exceptional applicants, an extra site was added to the Houston PREP program, located at the Houston Community College Technology Center. Out of 250 total Houston PREP students, 50 First Year students attended the program at the HCC site.

• In 1999, the Pre-College Award for Excellence in Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology was continued with funding to Houston PREP. The grant by NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. totaling $300,000 over three years was awarded to CCSDS to enhance PREP by:

  1. Continuing support of the Fourth Year Program

  2. Continuing the integration of science, mathematics and technology in all Houston PREP curricula

  3. Establishing an additional Houston PREP site

  4. Conduct teacher training sessions to help Houston PREP teachers integrate mathematics, science, and technology into the classroom

• Houston PREP incorporated the performing arts into its curriculum. All PREP students had the opportunity to learn culturally diverse dance and music. The professional instructors were Raul Edwards (Unlimited Talents), George Henderson (Multicultural Education Counseling Through the Arts), and Maria Lozano (Unlimited Talents). Selected PREP participants performed during the Houston PREP Closing Ceremonies.

• The 2nd Annual Houston PREP Engineering Fair was held on July 23, 1999 and July 24, 1999. Gracie Saenz, Attorney at Law with Brooks, Baker, & Lange, was the special guest speaker at the fair. Other speakers included Lupita Armendariz, Equal Opportunity Specialist at NASA-JSC; engineers from Kellogg Brown & Root, who had bridge building activity for the students; and other presenters from Bechtel, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BP Amoco, Quixote Enterprises, Exxon, and Stone & Webster.

• Fourth Year students implemented robotics using the LEGO Robotics invention system. They also developed web sites based on their research of computer-related topics.

• The 1999 Houston PREP Class was composed of Hispanic (33.6%), African-American (45.4%), and women (64.6%) students who were interested in possible engineering and science professions. The overall Houston PREP population was 96.5% minority and female students.

• The 1999 Houston PREP follow up survey of former PREP Scholars showed a 99.5% high school graduation rate. The Survey Results showed that 89.9% are college students or graduate students; Of the college students, 46.2% are engineering or science majors; 75.1% of the college students are minorities. Of the college graduates, 57.1% are engineering or science majors; 81.0% of the college graduates are minority.