CONGRESSMEN RUBÉN HINOJOSA AND FILEMON VELA PRAISE EFFORTS BY LOCAL EDUCATORS ON COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAMS AREA SUPERINTENDENTS MEET WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ON WHITE HOUSE COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY DAY OF ACTION

Washington, D.C.--Today-- Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, (D-Mercedes), and Filemon Vela, (D-Brownsville), congratulated Dr. Daniel P. King, superintendent of the Pharr—San Juan—Alamo Independent School District and McAllen Independent School District Superintendent Dr. James Ponce, for participating in the White House College Opportunity Day of Action.

Dr. King and Dr. Ponce joined President Barack Obama, the First Lady, Vice President Joe Biden and hundreds of college presidents and other higher education leaders to announce new action to help more students prepare for and graduate from college.

U.S. Congressman Hinojosa:

"I congratulate Dr. King and Dr. Ponce for working tirelessly to expand college opportunity to low-income and underrepresented students in our community.  Our students are key to building a strong economy and a strong middle class in South Texas.   I am especially proud that we in South Texas have answered President Obama's call to improve student success and ensure that all students make it to the finish line on graduation day.  As President Obama correctly pointed out, "completing college is key to strengthening the middle class and should not be a luxury for the few. Congratulations again to Dr. King and Dr. Ponce and to everyone who is taking action to help our students succeed."  

U.S. Congressman Vela:

“The work being done by Dr. King at PSJA is changing the lives of people in South Texas. Through partnerships with higher education entities and innovative learning techniques, he is helping educate our next generation of scientists, medical doctors, engineers, public servants and educators. Working with U.S. Congressman Hinojosa, and other colleagues in the House, we will continue to make more educational opportunities available for the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. Congratulations to Dr. King on his many accomplishments.”

Today’s participants were asked to commit to new action in one of four areas: building networks of colleges around promoting completion, creating K-16 partnerships around college readiness, investing in high school counselors as part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, and increasing the number of college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The President announced new steps on how his Administration is helping to support these actions, including announcing $10 million to help promote college completion and a $30 million AmeriCorps program that will improve low-income students’ access to college. Today’s event was the second College Opportunity Day of Action, and will include a progress report on the commitments made at the first day of action on January 14, 2014. 

Expanding opportunity for more students to enroll and succeed in college, especially low-income and underrepresented students, is vital to building a strong economy and a strong middle class. Today, only 9 percent of those born in the lowest family income quartile attain a bachelor’s degree by age 25, compared to 54 percent in the top quartile. In an effort to expand college access, the Obama Administration has increased Pell scholarships by $1,000 a year, created the new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college, limited student loan payments to 10 percent of income, and laid out an ambitious agenda to reduce college costs and promote innovation and competition. 

Dr. King is also a member of Rio Grande Valley FOCUS.

Rio Grande Valley FOCUS, a collective initiative established in 2012 by a cross-sector group of leaders, is driven by the vision that Rio Grande Valley leaders will achieve a greater degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career.’

Partners with Rio Grande Valley FOCUS are: Dr. Luzelma Canales, RGV Focus Executive Director; Dr. Shirley Reed, President, South Texas College; Dr. Havidan Rodriguez, President ad Interim, University of Texas—Pan American, Provost, University of Texas—Rio Grande Valley; Gonzalo Salazar, Superintendent, Los Fresnos CISD; Dr. James Ponce, Superintendent, McAllen ISD; Dr. Daniel King, Superintendent, Pharr—San Juan—Alamo ISD; Francisco Almaraz, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Solutions; Chris Coxon, Chief Program Officer, Educate Texas; Dr. Denise Davis, Associate Program Officer, Educate Texas; Maria Esther Rodriguez, Project Manager, RGV Focus.

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