PAC awarded $83K to offer STEM youth camps

Palo Alto College was awarded a grant by the Texas Workforce Commission to provide summer youth camps focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The College will receive $83,206 through the Governor's Summer Merit Program. This funding will help support the Code the Future summer camp with Youth Code Jam (YCJ), which is happening now as part of PAC's Summer Youth Camp offerings.

"This award by Texas Workforce Commission reaffirms Palo Alto College's commitment to building a college-going culture through Educate South, and our Youth Summer Camp is part of that charge," said Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. "The children in our community are the future leaders of industry, and it is through STEM education and career exploration opportunities like those offered by our summer camps that they can get a better sense of the possibilities available to them."  

As part of the STEM camp, students learn to code using AutoAuto, Finch Robots 2.0 with micro:bits, Cubit, and other technologies to increase computer science and manufacturing engineering awareness and build coding confidence and skills in robotics programming.

"We have been awarded this grant for the past four out of the five years we have applied for TWC grants," said Erron Gonzalez, STEM Center Coordinator. "Because of this, we've been able to provide coding opportunities for children in our community, and they get to integrate art and coding by using their creativity to build programs."

The Governor's Summer Merit Program introduces Texas young people to one or more of Texas' six focus industry clusters: advanced technologies and manufacturing, aerospace and defense, biotechnology and life sciences, information and computer technology, petroleum refining and chemical products, and energy.

PAC's Youth Summer Camp is in its last week, but interested parents can visit alamo.edu/pac/youthcamp to learn the types of summer camp experiences available to students in various age groups. To learn more about Educate South, visit alamo.edu/pac/educate-south.