Mesalands provides laptop computers to Texico High School

February 1, 2016

Students at Texico High School excited to use the new laptop computers provided by Mesalands Community College.

Students at Texico High School excited to use the new laptop computers provided by Mesalands Community College.

Mesalands Community College recently delivered five laptop computers to Texico High School. This technology was funded through the U.S Department of Education – Hispanic Serving Institution’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant. The addition of these computers is intended to meet one of the main objectives of the STEM Program at Mesalands, which is to improve student access and success in STEM education. Mesalands ultimately wants to assist area high school students with online and dual credit course acquisition.

“Part of the concerns of the STEM grant is to improve technology in our service area. If we are offering dual courses and the high schools are having issues with technology and accessing their online classes, that’s a hindrance to serving our population and our students,” said Dr. Forrest Kaatz, STEM Grant Director and Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research at Mesalands Community College.

“We felt that Texico High School might have a need for technology and they are fairly represented in the Dual Enrollment Program at Mesalands.”

There are approximately 40 Dual Enrollment students at Texico High School taking various college courses through Mesalands.

In the past, Mesalands has also supplied laptop computers to Grady Municipal Schools, House Municipal Schools, and Logan Municipal Schools, through funds from the STEM grant. This grant has allowed Mesalands to respond to an identified need for employment-related STEM education by improving laboratory facilities, and distance learning access.

“On behalf of Mesalands Community College, we are very excited to have the opportunity to assist our local area high schools in meeting some of their technology needs, through federal grant funds provided by the Department of Education” said Dr. Thomas W. Newsom, President of Mesalands. “As a result, we hope more young people will consider a STEM-related major, or a future career in a STEM-related field.”

Mesalands plans to provide other area school districts with new equipment as funds become available through the STEM grant.