Progress 08/01/06 to 01/31/10
Outputs
This project directly addresses the recruitment and retention of low-income Hispanic students who have limited educational goals and are primarily first-generation college students. The primary target areas are designed to increase students' knowledge about colleges, universities, and professional careers in agriculture and increase the number of students who complete agriculture classes at Spring Branch Independent School District( SBISD), Houston Community College ( HCC), and Sam Houston State University(SHSU). We have exceeded our original expectations. After completing two years of the grant we find that we have had a great deal of contact with more than 607 students and parents (we average 40% Hispanic students in our activities) and have made initial contacts to introduce agriculture to at least 2000 other parents and students through college/career day activities. Activities carried out during the life of the grant built on possible careers in agricultural businesses. Students at SBISD and HCC (607 students & adults) were introduced to career fields through visits to15 businesses, universities, and summer programs. We visited: High Star Christmas Tree Farm, Minute Maid Park (grounds tours, home of the Houston Astros), Nelsons Water Garden, Weatherford Farms, Southern Floral (largest wholesaler of cut flowers in the south west), Sam Houston State University, Pavestone Company, John Deere Landscapes, Skinner's Nurseries, Cornelius Nursery, University of Texas, Darleen's Flowers (2 generation retail shop) and Lady Bird Johnson Nature Center. These field trips were carried out during the school year as well as during the summer programs. We hosted five summer camps-one more than we originally planned. 139 students attended these camps over the 2 summers. The Summer Agriculture Academy, hosted twice by SHSU, introduced high school students to their four year baccalaureate program. The college professors presented lectures and hands on projects on numerous topics designed to appeal to the science/technology aspects of agriculture. The Ag Ambassadors (4 each year) acted as mentors and guides. The students had an awesome time and wanted to know if they could return next year. The Career Carnival was available for two years to students in 6-8th grades. These students were educated and exposed to numerous career opportunities that are available to them in agriculture science. They were taken on field trips to Minute Maid Park, Memorial Golf Course, and the Downtown Aquarium. They were instructed to choose a career topic and then develop a Power Point presentation. 82 students completed Power Point presentations of careers they had researched. We included an additional week of culinary camp which 15 students. They studied food safety, nutrition, and made an awesome visit to an outlet for Viking products. There, the head chef gave an informative history and lecture on current careers. We also had a cooking contest which was judged on presentation, originality, and flavor. This generated so much excitement that we wrote an entire other grant around it. PRODUCTS: 82 Spring Branch ISD students in the summer workshops produced their own computer CD. The CD contained the research each student conducted on a career choice. It reflects the awareness and mastery of their topic. It also showcased their computer competency and the new skills they achieved during the workshop. The 44 Spring Branch dual credit students raised two crops totaling1500 poinsettias. Houston Community College donated the poinsettia seedlings with funds provided by the grant. The students grew two beautiful crops without the luxury of an irrigation system; all 1500 were watered by hand. 5 HCC students completed summer internships in agriculture businesses. The interns had opportunities in viticulture with the Country Extension Agency, in the horticulture with Harris County Parks System, in landscape design at Watt's Landscaping, in nursery production at RCW Nursery and propagation and research development with a local grower. A final product of the grant was the creation of a colorful brochure. The prior brochures were a dingy yellow and green. They were dated and did not show the appeal the green industry has. With a little imagination, we were able to produce a nice color brochure that is contemporary and informative. OUTCOMES: We are pleased with the multiple outcomes of this grant. We have contacted and discussed careers in agriculture with more than 2000 people--the vast majority of which are both students and are of Hispanic origin. Many parents, siblings, and teachers have been exposed to careers in agriculture through this grant. At least 607 students and parents have taken part in grant activities such as field trips, projects, and the five summer programs. Another successful outcome was the USDA Scholarship Program. We were pleased to award the $40,000. scholarship to Daniel Powell. He will begin SHSU in the fall of 2007 and will use the funds through his baccalaureate degree program. Daniel is a fine young man with excellent grades and a host of extracurricular activities relating to agriculture. When we went to SHSU Summer Academy, he was the first to answer questions and participate. He was a leader who led the group with a serious approach to the academy. He made the most of the situation by getting to know the professors and conversing at length. Currently, he is beginning his third successful year at SHSU. We also funded 11 students with $500. Scholarships to HCC and SHSU. We have had 44 students receive college credit by enrolling in our dual credit Greenhouse Management Class. One SBISD teacher became qualified to teach dual credit. The final outcome is a continuation of aligning the partnerships of the three schools. SBISD and HCC students have had a great deal of contact with each other and SHSU. We made four trips to SHSU with a total of 129 people viewing what the campus has to offer. The dual credit classes offered at SBISD are aligned to transfer to HCC. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: In order to announce grant activities, we used several different printed materials, a website, and email. The following is a list of methods used to announce grant activities to students and parents. Careers in Agriculture: Single fold, color pamphlet to introduce the grant projects to students, teachers, and parents. USDA Scholarship Program: an 8 page document describing what is required for an application, who is eligible, how the scholarship is funded, how the recipient can use the funds. Portfolio of Grant Activities: Describes all the projects and field trips associated with the grant. It includes color photographs. Building New Career Tracks Website: includes grant activities and scholarship information. Grant activities were announced through the teachers, emails, and flyers. Registration and Activity sheets were printed and distributed for the summer programs. A bulletin board was used to post job notices, college days, class schedules. In September, 2006 we presented the grant through a Power Point presentation at the FY 2006 Grantees Conference. The project director and program director attended the Texas Consortium of HSI's in February, 2006 in Corpus Christy, TX. The conference helped develop our relationship with other Hispanic serving institutes in Texas. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Next year we plan to have more of our brochures and most useful information printed in Spanish as well as English. We have made two new valuable contacts. Amiga's Latinas, a program with about 20 college bound Hispanic high school students, and The Parent's Center, a minority based program which enhances parent/child relationships by allowing them to learn together (Power Point, Family Wellness, etc.). We plan to introduce these groups to SHSU and career possibilities through projects and field trips. We plan to go on additional field trips and have more hands on projects for SBISD students.
Impacts
This project has significantly impacted the relationship between SBISD, HCC, and SHSU. The relationships have continued to strengthen and solidify. We made four trips to SHSU this year with a total of 129 people viewing the campus, being informed of housing, financial aid, the application process, registering for class, and other topics of interest to first generation college families. On the two trips for Encuentro Day, SHSU hosted the event in Spanish with English as the secondary translation. The dual credit classes offered at SBISD are aligned to transfer to HCC. 66 students received scholarships to either HCC or SHSU. Awareness of agriculture/horticulture degree programs and all the possible career choices has increased greatly for the high school/ college students and parents. Over 2000 people were reached because of this grant. Over 607 students and parents took part in projects and field trips. 5 students were exposed to great jobs in agriculture through summer internships. The interns had opportunities in viticulture with the Country Extension Agency, in the horticulture with Harris County, in landscape design at Watt's Landscaping, in nursery production at RCW Nursery and propagation and research development with a local grower. The student who interned at Watt's Landscaping was offered a job after the internship was over.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/01/07 to 07/31/08
Outputs
The Building New Career Tracks for Underrepresented Students grant was funded as a partnership between Houston Community College, Sam Houston State University, and Spring Branch Independent School District. The partnership is a 30 month grant designed to attract, retain, and graduate underrepresented, Hispanic students into agricultural classes which would then position the students for a career relating to agriculture. We have exceeded our original expectations! After completing the second year of the grant we find that we have had a great deal of contact this year with more than 272 students and parents and have made initial contacts to introduce agriculture to at least 2000 other parents and students through college/career day activities. Students at SBISD and HCC (272 students & adults) were introduced to career field of agriculture and horticulture through visits to11 businesses, universities, and summer programs. We visited: High Star Christmas Tree Farm, Minute Maid Park (grounds tours, home of the Houston Astros), Nelsons Water Gardens, Weatherford Farms, Southern Floral (largest wholesaler of cut flowers in the south west), Sam Houston State University, Pavestone Company (landscape rock), John Deere Landscapes, Skinner's Nurseries, Cornelius Nursery, University of Texas, Darleen's Flowers (2 generation retail shop) and Lady Bird Johnson Nature Center. These field trips were carried out during this school year as well as during the summer programs. We hosted 3summer camps-one more than we originally planned. 84 students attended these camps in June of 2008. The Summer Agriculture Academy, hosted twice by SHSU, introduced high school age students to their four year baccalaureate program and to careers available to graduates. The college professors presented lectures and hands on projects for Equine Science and Horse Behavior, Ultrasound Technology for Pregnancy Testing in Livestock, Golf Course Management and the Game of Golf, GIS and GPS Applications in Agr. and several more topics designed to appeal to the science/technology aspects of agriculture. The students had an awesome time and wanted to know if they could return next year. The Career Carnival was available for two years to students in 6-8th grades. These students were educated and exposed to numerous career opportunities that are available to them with the completion of a degree in agriculture science. They were taken on field trips to Minute Maid Park, Memorial Golf Course, and the Downtown Aquarium. They were instructed to choose a career topic and then develop a Power Point presentation. 82 students completed Power Point presentations of careers they had researched. We worked in an additional one week culinary camp which 15 students. They studied food safety, nutrition, and made an awesome visit to an outlet for Viking products. There, the head chef gave an informative history and lecture on current careers. We also had a cooking contest which was judged on presentation, originality, and flavor. This generated so much excitement that we wrote a whole other grant around it. PRODUCTS: 33 Spring Branch ISD students in the summer workshops produced their own computer CD. The CD contained the research each student conducted on a career choice. It reflects the awareness and mastery of their topic. It also showcased their computer competency and the new skills they achieved during the workshop. The 10 Spring Branch dual credit students raised 500 poinsettias. Houston Community College donated the poinsettia seedlings with funds provided by the grant. The high school students grew a beautiful crop without the luxury of an irrigation system; all 500 were watered by hand. 2 HCC students completed summer internships in agriculture businesses. The interns had opportunities in the horticulture with Harris County Parks System, and in plant propagation and in research development with a local grower. A final product of the grant was the creation of a colorful cookbook by the 15 students who attended the summer culinary camp. OUTCOMES: We are pleased with the multiple outcomes of this grant. We have contacted and discussed careers in agriculture with more than 2272 people--the vast majority of which are both students and are of Hispanic origin. Many parents, siblings, and teachers have been exposed to careers in agriculture through this grant. At least 272 students and parents have taken part in grant activities such as field trips, projects, and the five summer programs. We also funded 6 students with $500. scholarships to HCC and SHSU. We have had 10 more students receive college credit by enrolling in our dual credit Greenhouse Management Class this year. The final outcome is a continuation of aligning the partnerships of the three schools. SBISD and HCC students have had a great deal of contact with each other and SHSU. We made four trips to SHSU with a total of 129 people viewing what the campus has to offer. The dual credit classes offered at SBISD are aligned to transfer to HCC. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: In order to announce grant activities, we used several different printed materials, a website, and email. The following is a list of methods used to announce grant activities to students and parents. Careers in Agriculture: Single fold, color pamphlet to introduce the grant projects to students, teachers, and parents USDA Scholarship Program: an 8 page document describing what is required for an application, who is eligible, how the scholarship is funded, how the recipient can use the funds Portfolio of Grant Activities: Describes all the projects and field trips associated with the grant. It includes color photographs Building New Career Tracks Website: includes grant activities and scholarship information Grant activities were announced through the teachers, emails, and flyers Registration and Activity sheets were printed and distributed for the summer programs. Bulletin Board to post job notices, college days, class schedules FUTURE INITIATIVES: Next year we plan to have more of our brochures and most useful information printed in Spanish as well as English. We have made two new valuable contacts. Amiga's Latinas, a program with about 20 college bound Hispanic high school students, and The Parent's Center, a minority based program which enhances parent/child relationships by allowing them to learn together (Power Point, Family Wellness, etc.). We plan to introduce these groups to SHSU and career possibilities through projects and field trips. We plan to go on additional field trips and have more hands on projects for SBISD students.
Impacts
This project has significantly impacted the relationship between SBISD, HCC, and SHSU. The relationships have continued to strengthen and solidify. We made two trips to SHSU this year with a total of 96 people viewing the campus, being informed of housing, financial aid, the application process, registering for class, and other topics of interest to first generation college families. On Encuentro Day, SHSU hosted everything in Spanish with English as the secondary translation. The dual credit classes offered at SBISD are aligned to transfer to HCC. 10 students received college credit which will transfer to either HCC or SHSU. We presented 6 other scholarships of $500. each to students to attend SHSU or HCC. Awareness of agriculture/horticulture degree programs and all the possible career choices has increased greatly for the high school/ college students and parents. Over 2272 people were reached because of this grant. Over 272 students and parents took part in projects and field trips. 2 students were exposed to great jobs in agriculture through summer internships. The interns had opportunities in the horticulture with Harris County and in propagation and research development with a local grower.
Publications
- Careers in Agriculture: Single fold, color pamphlet to introduce the grant projects to students, teachers, and parents. Gehman, 2007. Numerous flyers, posters, and registration documents. Gehman, 2007.
- 82 Power Points for Career Choices. Gehman, 2007.
- Bulletin Board to post job notices, college days, class schedules. Gehman, 2007.
- USDA Scholarship Program: an 8 page document describing what is required for an application, who is eligible, how the scholarship is funded, and how the recipient can use the funds. Gehman, 2007.
- Portfolio of Grant Activities: Describes all the projects and field trips associated with the grant. Includes color photographs, agendas. Gehman, 2007.
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Progress 08/01/06 to 07/31/07
Outputs
The Building New Career Tracks for Underrepresented Students grant was funded August 1, 2006 as a partnership between Houston Community College, Sam Houston State University, and Spring Branch Independent School District. The partnership is a 30 month grant designed to attract, retain, and graduate underrepresented students into agricultural classes which would then position the students for a career relating to agriculture. This project directly addresses the recruitment and retention of low-income Hispanic and other underrepresented students who have limited educational goals and are primarily first-generation college students. By creating a pipeline for these students, the project directs its focus to the problem of a burgeoning Hispanic population and the needs of a primary industry in Texas. The primary target areas are designed to increase students' knowledge about colleges, universities, and professional careers in agriculture and increase the number of students
who complete agriculture classes as SBISD, HCC, and SHSU. We have had a great deal of contact with 200 students and have made initial contacts to introduce agriculture to at least 1600 other parents and students. Activities carried out during the life of the grant built on previous experiences as well as activities carried out during the New Career Tracks...grant. Students at SBISD and HCC (294 students total) were introduced to the field of agriculture and horticulture through visits to High Star Christmas Tree Farm, Minute Maid Park (turf grass), Nelsons Water Gardens, The Downtown Aquarium, Weatherford Farms, Southern Floral, Sam Houston State University, Pavestone Company (landscape rock), John Deere Landscapes, Skinner's Nurseries, Cornelius Nursery, and Lady Bird Johnson Nature Center. These field trips were carried out during the school year as well as during the summer programs at the Career Carnival and the Summer Academy at SHSU. The Career Carnival was available to Jr. High
age students. These students were educated and exposed to numerous career opportunities that are available to them with the completion of a degree in agriculture science and horticulture. They were taken on field trips to Minute Maid Park, Memorial Golf Course, and the Downtown Aquarium. They were instructed to choose a career topic they were interested in, research it, and then develop a Power Point presentation. The Summer Academy hosted at SHSU introduced high school age students to their four year baccalaureate program and to careers available to graduates. The college professors presented lectures and hands on projects for Equine Science and Horse Behavior, Ultrasound Technology for Pregnancy Testing in Livestock, Golf Course Management and the Game of Golf, GIS and GPS Applications in Agr. and several more topics designed to appeal to the science/technology aspects of agriculture. The students had an awesome time and wanted to know if they could return next year.
PRODUCTS: Spring Branch ISD students in the summer workshops produced their own computer CD that included their topic of choice from agriculture. The CD contained the research each student conducted and it reflects the awareness and mastery of their topic. It also showcased their computer competency and the new skills they achieved during the workshop. The Spring Branch dual credit students raised a crop of 500 poinsettias for the Christmas holiday season. Houston Community College donated the poinsettia seedlings with funds provided by the grant. The kids grew a beautiful crop without the luxury of an irrigation system, all 500 were watered by hand. A third product of the grant was the creation of a colorful brochure. Previously the brochures were a dingy yellow and green. They were dated and did not show the appeal the green industry has. With a little imagination, we were able to produce a nice color brochure that is contemporary and informative.
OUTCOMES: We are pleased with the multiple outcomes of this grant. We have contacted and discussed careers in agriculture with at least 1800 people--the vast majority of which are both students and are of Hispanic origin. Many parents, siblings, and teachers have been exposed to careers in agriculture through this grant. At least 200 students have taken part in grant activities such as field trips, projects, and the two summer programs. Another successful outcome was the USDA Scholarship Program. We were pleased to award the $40,000. scholarship to Daniel Powell. He will begin SHSU in the fall of 2007 and use the funds through his baccalaureate degree program. Daniel is a fine young man with excellent grades and a host of extracurricular activities relating to agriculture. When we went to SHSU Summer Academy, he was the first to answer questions and participate. He was a leader who led the group with a serious approach to the academy. I introduced him to the professors and he made
the most of the situation by getting to know them and conversing at length. Now, he won't be one of 300 new students. He will be Daniel Powell, interested, articulate student and winner of the $40,000. USDA Scholarship. The final outcome is a continuation of aligning the partnerships of the three schools. SBISD and HCC students have had a great deal of contact with each other and SHSU. We made four trips to SHSU this year with a total of 129 people viewing what the campus has to offer. The dual credit classes offered at SBISD are aligned to transfer to HCC. HCC credit hours will transfer to SHSU. The strength of this alignment will continue to benefit the student throughout the remaining year and a half of the grant.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: In order to announce grant activities, we used several different printed materials, a website, and email. The following is a list of methods used to announce grant activities to students and parents. Careers in Agriculture: Single fold, color pamphlet to introduce the grant projects to students, teachers, and parents USDA Scholarship Program: an 8 page document describing what is required for an application, who is eligible, how the scholarship is funded, how the recipient can use the funds Portfolio of Grant Activities: Describes all the projects and field trips associated with the grant. It includes color photographs Building New Career Tracks Website: includes grant activities and scholarship information Grant activities were announced through the teachers, emails, and flyers Registration and Activity sheets were printed and distributed for the summer programs. In September, 2006 we presented the grant through a Power Point presentation at the FY 2006
Grantees Conference. The project director and program director attended the Texas Consortium of HSI's in February, 2006 in Corpus Christy, TX. The conference helped develop our relationship with other Hispanic serving institutes in Texas.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Next year we plan to have our brochures and most useful information printed in Spanish as well as English. We have made two new valuable contacts. Amiga's Latinas, a program with about 20 college bound Hispanic high school students, and The Parent's Center, a minority based program which enhances parent/child relationships by allowing them to learn together (Power Point, Family Wellness, etc.). We plan to introduce these groups to SHSU and career possibilities through projects and field trips. We plan to go on additional field trips and have more hands on projects for SBISD students.
Impacts
This project has significantly impacted the relationship between SBISD, HCC, and SHSU. The relationships have continued to strengthen and solidify. Awareness of agriculture/horticulture degree programs and all the possible career choices has increased greatly for the high school/ college students and parents. Over 1800 people were reached because of this grant. Over 200 students took part in projects and field trips. Curricula were aligned between the three schools.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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