Local students are kicking off the school year with newfound skills and confidence in the classroom thanks to a summer of learning and growth at Rice University’s camps hosted by The Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education.
Sponsored by Exxon-Mobil, the Tapia Camps for rising 8th-12th graders featured a five-night, six-day residential experience with a challenging science, technology, en- gineering and math curriculum that emphasizes real world problems. This summer, campers completed a project developed by the Tapia Center and ExxonMobil that challenged campers to build models of an underground reservoir using household items to demonstrate the concept of carbon capture and storage. During camp, students also enhance their communication and team building skills by learning how to simplify complicated STEM ideas through completion of an end-ofcamp oral presentation – all while experiencing life on a college campus.
The San Marcos CISD teachers that participated were Merly Olvera and Savannah Sparks. The students participating were Aaron Tran, Jean Paul Wilensky, Rodolfo Orozco and Paula Belen.
“The Tapia Camps were designed to encourage students of all backgrounds to explore careers in STEM and empower them with the tools to feel confident pursuing STEM classes and careers,” said Dr. Paul Hand, director of the Tapia Camps at Rice University. “It is a privilege to support these young individuals as they grow and consider new possibilities throughout their time at camp. It is also rewarding to equip educators from across the state with the tools and skills to improve student engagement and hear their success stories after they implement the methodology in their classrooms.”
The professional development camp for educators of all subjects and levels provides participants the tools to implement project-based learning — a set of techniques that encourage hands-on, engaging experiences — in their classrooms. Teachers who complete the program earn Continuing Professional Education hours.
Registration for 2025 programming will open Nov. 1. Individuals or school districts looking for more information can reach out to The Tapia Center at [email protected] or 713-348-5182. Corporations and charitable foundations interested in sponsorship opportunities may also reach out to The Tapia Center for more information.
The Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education at Rice University was founded in 1995 to promote greater participation of underrepresented minorities and women in the sciences and engineering and empower them to be future leaders. The Center’s founder, Dr. Richard Tapia, is internationally known for his research in the computational and mathematical sciences and is a national leader in education and outreach.
