Tex PREP tests engineer skills

UTPB's first week of the new program Tex PREP included lessons on logic - and launching of hovercrafts.

Tex PREP is a program in dozens of Texas colleges and universities, but up until UTPB added the program this year, students in the area had to go to Sul Ross to participate. Having it locally means students can participate and increase science and math skills right in Odessa.

"We're trying to build math in Odessa, and we hit our target of 100 students in what has started out very successfully," UTPB Coordinator of Continuing Education and Outreach Mary Martinez said.

Associate Director for the state's Tex PREP Carol Petri said the program has a heavy focus on math and engineering and is intended to both increase skills in math and excite interest in careers based in science or math fields. Martinez said she hopes to have a new level of Tex PREP classes added next year.

"This is very important because every year we fall further behind in the number of engineers we have. Many are retiring, and there are not enough to replace them," Petri said.

Those who go get one high school elective credit. She said it helps students remember what they learned and prepare for the next grade level better. However, while math is the focus, it goes beyond simple calculation.

"The focus is logic, abstract reasoning, which helps in school and in personal life," Petri said. She said 99 percent of Tex PREP graduates in Texas go to college, with 84 percent graduating, higher than the state average.

Incoming UTPB junior Sarah Acker majors in biology and premed and is assisting teachers with the Tex PREP program. She said she's learning just as much as they are, particularly logic.

"It's also so much fun getting to hang out with kids all day. They love coming to see me," she said.

Odessa eighth-grader Derek Fletcher built and tested a CD hovercraft with some follow classmates. The project was part of the hands-on activities Martinez said was key to the program.

"It goes better without foil," he said.

He said Tex PREP was more fun than he expected, but he loves science and wants to become an allergist or marine biologist.

Fellow Odessa eighth-grader Sebastian Cordoba said he liked getting to make the hovercraft.

"I've never done math in this way," he said. "I think it will help me with school and my future."

Bonham eighth-grader Michael Whitfield joined his sister Myrissa at a table completing some paperwork about their projects. He said their AVID teacher suggested they sign up for the program, a decision they didn't regret.

"I like science and wanted to see the opportunities that are out there, not just becoming a doctor and lawyer," Myrissa said.

Classes

>> Logic and its application to mathematics.

>> Introduction to engineering.

>> Introduction to computer science.