Planting The Seeds of Interest
Northwest Vista College’s robotics program preps children for science careers.
By Angela Timmons
SAN ANTONIO
Luciano Torres watched in amazement as the group of 12-year-olds, clutching backpacks and wearing matching T-shirts, built robots that they could command with their voices.
“I come from a family where almost nobody graduated,” says Torres, a second-generation Mexican-American whose daughter, Abigail, was among the children. “I’m just real happy she’s getting
this opportunity.”
Hispanics have long been under-represented in the science fields, comprising less than 2 percent of the computer science doctorates awarded nationwide in 2003. But a pilot program at San Antonio’s Northwest Vista College is trying to change that by introducing Hispanic students to science and technology at a young age. NVC hopes to convince lawmakers and business leaders that the economic future of San Antonio depends on turning the children of immigrants into a highly skilled work force.
This past summer, the college teamed up with businesses, a local school and entrepreneur Jim Brazell to create SpaceTEAMS, an innovative robotics program designed to provide science training to 100 low-income, female and minority children. The goal is to plant the seeds of interest and confidence that, years down the road, may translate
into professions in science, technology, engineering and math.
