Pivot Points Moments of Change in the Lives

Pivot Points: Moments of Change in the Lives of Young Adults Featuring the voices of students from the Region One ESC GEAR UP: Bridges to the Future Partnership Class of 2011 Region One Education Service Center, Edinburg, Texas

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Region One Education Service Center • Services 37 school districts Region One ESC provides supportive services to public schools within a seven county area on the Texas. Mexico border, including: • • Cameron County Hidalgo County Jim Hogg County Starr County Webb County Willacy County Zapata County

• 1999 - 2006: Right Choices for Youth Partnership • 2005 -2011: Bridges to the Future Partnership • 2011 - 2017: Ready, Set, College! Partnership

Region One GEAR UP: Ready, Set, College! Partnership is a partnership between: §Region One ESC § 44 middle schools § 29 high schools § 27 school districts §Local Business and Community Partners §Local Institutions of Higher Education

Demographics 99% Hispanic 90% Economically Disadvantaged 6% Migrant 39% ELL

Maria Ibarra • Graduated from Rio Grande HS 2011 • Attends University of Texas Pan American—scheduled for graduation in December, 2015 • Major: Environmental Science • 1 st Generation college student • Daughter of a single parent household • Undocumented student

Ernesto Espinoza • Graduated from Edinburg North HS 2011 • University of Texas Pan American—scheduled for graduation in December 2015 • Major: Pre-med Biology and General Studies Major • 1 st generation college student • Son of immigrant parents

Jocelyn Atkinson • Graduated from Port Isabel HS 2011 • Attends University of Texas Brownsville • Major: Criminal Justice • 1 st generation high school & college student • Not being accepted at 1 st choice university

Beatriz Ramirez Guevara • Graduated from Rio Grande HS 2011 • Graduated form University of Texas Pan American • B. A. in Mass Communication Radio/TV Broadcasting • Works at ABC affiliate Channel 5 • 1 st generation college student • Low-income student • Daughter of farm workers