El Paso, Texas, September 24, 2024 – El Paso Community College (EPCC) hosted a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Student Matching event on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The event matches students with Information Technology (IT) businesses in El Paso.
The event was made possible thanks to a generous P-TECH Expansion Grant from Educate Texas and support from ESC Region-19 and Workforce Solutions Borderplex. The grant focuses on expanding education-to-career programs that will strengthen the region’s workforce.
This is the first event of its kind, and Tonie Badillo, Dean of Dual Credit and Early College High Schools, hopes there will be more to come in the future.
“We realized that school districts needed our support in reaching out to businesses, and the P-TECH Expansion Grant really helped facilitate the communication. It’s fantastic to see our hard work come to fruition, and we’re happy to see that we have 30 students and local businesses here for our first attempt, thanks to the grant,” Badillo said.
The Student Matching event featured P-TECH students from EPISD and Clint ISD P-TECH’s, in a five minute ‘speed-dating’ interview session with technological industry insiders. These students are hoping to gain valuable workforce experience, internships, even jobs after high school. Local businesses included IT departments from GECU, FloWar, Region 19, Workforce Borderplex, Healthcare Corporation of America, Lower Valley Water District, and EPCC’s Student Transfer Services.
“We’re hoping to expand to other P-TECH’s in education, criminal justice, pre-med., etc., but this has been great so far,” Badillo added.
In May, EPCC held an Information Technology (IT) Business and Education Forum at the Region 19 Starlight Event Center to inform business and industry leaders about how they can support EPCC’s Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) Early College High School students. The forum was an opportunity to connect area school districts, higher education, and business and industry with the support of regional collaborators to develop strong work-based learning opportunities for students.
About P-TECH
Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), are designed to allow students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a post-secondary credential in four years. Throughout the four years the students participate in this innovative model, they have a variety of workplace experiences in their chosen pathway. Students in this program take a combination of high school and college courses and receive academic and social support services to ensure their success, at no cost to students or their families!
P-TECHS must target and enroll students who are historically underrepresented in higher education, including economically disadvantaged, first-generation, at-risk, and English Language Learners. Tuition waivers for college attendance are granted to each student.
Website: https://www.epcc.edu/Academics/DualCredit/pathways-in-technology-early-college-high-schools
Alexis Romero (FloWar) Interviewing Bayle Christy & Vanessa Barbosa of Austin
Companies and Students only had five minutes for the interview process
Companies Interviewing Students at EPCC P Tech Matching Event
Workforce Borderplex’s Jacqueline Goodship Interviews Avian Lira from Chapin
