SAC programs teach students to think globally about business-related careers

(San Antonio, TX, July 5, 2005) ­ With innovative and practical programs that provide global perspectives and teach about mutual respect, international business and technology, San Antonio College is developing students to become future global leaders. In Tech Prep, high school students begin their chosen course of study in high school and continue into courses at the community college, which lead to Associate of Applied Science degrees and/or technical careers. Once at SAC, many Tech Prep students participate in the Student Leadership Academy, which teaches students to think globally through exposure to the City of San Antonio International Affairs Office, North American Development Bank, and San Antonio¹s sister cities in Japan, Mexico and Spain.

Earlier this summer, the programs combined resources to offer the Tech Prep Summer Institute Camp on Career Clusters to both student populations. Six 10th grade students from area high schools and four Business and Accounting students from SAC learned about careers in criminal justice, public administration and business management, while also studying different regions of the world.

During the one-week summer institute, students were taught the different ways that law enforcement agencies in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States conduct their high security jobs. They were also informed about the variety of governmental, planning and business management occupations. The program culminated with a field trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico, where students visited actual sites that combine the careers. The trip was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Homeland Security Office, Maverick County Economic Development Office in Eagle Pass, the Mayor¹s Office in Piedras Negras, CASA Coahuila in San Antonio, Alamo Region Tech Prep, and San Antonio College.

Students listened to Joe Alanis from the US office of Homeland Security on the efforts of the staff to keep America safe from terrorists, and issues of drug smuggling and immigration.

The Executive Director from the Maverick County Economic Development Corporation, Marga Lopez, spoke about economic efforts in Eagle Pass. The Mayor of Piedras Negras, Mario Anthony Rincon Arelleno, and staff members Norma Alvarado and Fernando Puron Johnston spoke about the economic development, infrastructure and housing efforts, plus the long-range and master plans for Piedras Negras that are projected until 2025.

Students saw Piedras Negras as a well-planned city with good infrastructure, housing, parks, water, treatment plants, and solid economic development projects. The streets and parks are very clean and safe. The major project under construction is the ³Plaza de Las Tres Culturas,² the Three Cultures Plaza, which pays homage to the three major indigenous cultures of Mexico:
Aztec, Mayan, and Olemca. Colorful murals, pyramids and a tourist attraction with various store fronts and a planetarium provide a cultural history of Mexico, with descriptions in English and Spanish, as well as economic development for both countries. The project is expected to be complete by August 2005.

"Students commented on how impressed they were with the friendliness, teamwork approach and willingness of the professionals to work in two countries," said SAC Tech Prep Summer Institute coordinator Sylvia De Leon.
"Whether our students go on to work for Toyota, USAA, the City of San Antonio, the office of Homeland Security, or elsewhere in the region or in the world, as a result of this program they will be able to combine career clusters in Criminal Justice, Public Administration and Business Management, along with a worldwide perspective and knowledge of technology, to become leaders in a global society."

Also during the field trip, students visited San Luis Rassini, ³Maquiladora² a twin plant in Piedras Negras, that provides 92% of the suspension components for trucks in North America for companies including GM, Ford and Toyota. San Luis Rassini is a Mexican company with automaker plants in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

As their final project, students produced a Power Point presentation about Tech Prep opportunities and elements of global leadership for presentation at their respective high schools.

For more information on the SAC Tech Prep Summer Institute call Sylvia De Leon at (210) 733-2888, or Anthony Hancock or Bob Pearce at Alamo Region Tech Prep, (210) 587-4436.