Education

The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists continues to grow its scholarship fund and has, for the second year in a row, passed a benchmark in providing funding to college students.

Each year the San Antonio chapter strives to bring more deserving students into the profession. Communications Officer Javier Flores said that last year the organization was able to award $25,000 for the first time in its history.

Tomorrow, 25 schools across San Antonio will have special visitors to talk about the medical field. Dr. Pam Otto is one of the visiting doctors and said she has talked to students in the past who have plenty of questions about what it takes to become a physician.

"You know, 'How long are you in school?’ and, 'What does all that take? What kind of grades do you have to have?' The cost always comes up. For the women, a lot of times – even though half the medical school class is women now – the young ladies often ask, 'Can I still have a family?'" Otto said.

State Senator Dan Patrick gave a report to the Greater San Antonio Chamber’s education committee Friday about issues important to area business leaders.

Greater chamber members are keenly interested in programs that prepare students for jobs. Education Committee Chairwoman Denise Green said they heard from the senator on measures addressing dual credit, more funding for career education and replacing the school funding taken away in the last session.

The Texas Institute for Educational Robotics (TIER) at Northwest Vista College has been awarded a grant from the Google Computer Sciences for High School program.

TIER is an outreach program at Northwest Vista College to get younger students interested in pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math and was awarded the money to give middle school teachers a gaming-type tool to use in teaching their regular classes.

The Pre-K 4 SA board members are regularly seen gathering together around City Hall to work out hiring procedures, student enrollment and how the education centers will be managed.

On Tuesday the board voted to keep the language in its job description for the professional development director as "preferred" master’s degree. Board member Bob Bevard suggested the word "preferred" diminishes the applicant pool.

Chair Elaine Mendoza said the board can assess what kind of candidates apply before deciding to amend the description to "required."