Mission, Texas- What started ten years ago as a first-of-its-kind college readiness event is coming to a close this week. In February 2007, Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) partnered with South Texas College and The University of Texas Pan American for a unique event designed to help high school seniors complete college applications and the main financial aid form commonly known as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It was called Operation College Bound.
It involved bringing together all the Mission CISD high school seniors together at one time. Hundreds of laptop computers were made available for completing online applications. Students rotated through sessions on the computers, and informational sessions on money management, transitioning to college life, and other topics designed to de-mystify the process of going to college.
Over the years, the event has been modified to meet the needs of the students, and divided into separate events for the district’s two traditional high schools.
This tenth anniversary year of Operation College Bound will be the last year for the event.
“Over the years, more and more of what is being done through Operation College Bound is being included in the College Readiness courses all Mission CISD students are required to take,” explained Cris Valdez, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “Changes in federal law regarding information students need to complete their FAFSA’s will allow us to fully incorporate completion of the FAFSA into the college readiness courses, beginning next school year. Operation College Bound has served our students well for ten years.”
The final Operation College Bound for Mission High School was held yesterday (February 17). The final event for Veterans Memorial High School will be held the morning of Friday, February 19. Services included are: working on the online FAFSA using laptops set up in the main gym, informational student sessions, and an immunization clinic for shots required by most universities and colleges.
“We would like to thank our partners, STC and UTRGV for their support over the past decade in making Operation College Bound a success,” Valdez said. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with them in helping Mission CISD continue to be a leader in college and career prep.”
Pictured are Mission High School seniors working on their FAFSA’s on laptop computers set up in the main gym. This turned the facility into a super-sized computer lab.
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