Congressman Gonzalez Announces $1.6 Million for UTRGV Mentorship Research

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced a $1,643,385 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to research how different approaches to mentoring affect youth.

The project focuses on the impact of near-peer mentoring of high-school-aged Hispanic youth by Hispanic undergraduate mathematics majors and their interactions. The goal is to facilitate the enjoyment of advanced mathematics through dynamic, experiential learning and help high-school-aged youth align themselves with other doers of mathematics on the academic stage.

"I would not be here today if it weren't for my mentors," said Congressman Gonzalez. "This program is a great opportunity for young scholars to build lasting relationships and learn more about STEM. It is my hope that this study will entice more students to pursue math and science and demonstrate the value of mentorship."

"We are grateful that the National Science Foundation is investing in the Rio Grande Valley by supporting this exciting educational collaborative between UTRGV and area school districts," said Dr. Aaron T. Wilson, Associate Professor in the UTRGV School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.

"This grant will allow us to positively impact many high school students in the region by connecting them with university students and interesting collegiate mathematics topics in dynamic ways, thus attracting young people to study and pursue careers in STEM."

More information on the UTRGV NSF grant can be found here.