Mission , Texas- A team of four students from Salinas Elementary School recently flexed their engineering muscle, winning a competition against teams from neighboring school districts. It was called the Manufacturing Day Design Challenge. The students are (left to right): Jessica Martinez, Aleckzander Hernandez, Yandel Barrera, Christine Zayas. Pictured on the back row are: Gabe Puente, publisher, RGVision Magazine; Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, city council place 1, city of Mission; Trung Ngyen, plant manager, Royal Technologies; Susan Valverde, executive director, Sylvan Learning RGV; Martina Garcia, principal, Salinas Elementary School.
The Manufacturing Day Design Challenge was part of Mission EDC, Royal Technologies Corporation, and Sylvan Learning RGV’s newest program called, Enginuity, an initiative that connects local employer, Royal Technologies, with local youth in an effort to expose students to opportunities in Engineering, Design and Manufacturing careers in the Rio Grande Valley. The goal is to create a pipeline of future engineers and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) entrepreneurs that will help strengthen the manufacturing base that already exists in the Mission area. This is part of a growing list of opportunities for Mission CISD students through the unique business partnerships being created by Mission EDC, to build student interest and knowledge in the areas of STEM.