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Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 505-277-5920
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December 17, 2003 UNM SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAMS BUILD PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS
Following high school graduation, Pehr, an electrical engineering major
and the daughter of Darrell and Linda Pehr, was invited to participate
in Summer Introduction to Math, Engineering and Science, a UNM program
offered through the School of Engineering's (SOE) Diversity Programs.
Steven Peralta, director of SOE's Diversity Programs, said he is pleased
with Pehr's experience. "We are trying to expand these bridge programs
to encourage others to participate so that they will have a greater understanding
of the transition from high school into the college curriculum and all
it entails," he said. Pehr's electrical engineering interest is in wireless communication.
She intends to minor in political science with the long-term goal of attending
law school to pursue an interest in patent law. Perez, a biology major and the son of Luis Perez and Denise Alaniz, also
spent part of the summer of 2002 at UNM while participating in the Undergraduate
Health Sciences Enrichment Program. "The program lasted a month and
a half. We took classes on north campus with pharmacists and surgeons.
We also volunteered in a clinical setting," he said. Perez had set his sights on medical school since he was at Artesia High
School. "I had been in medical explorers, an extra-curricular group, and
took a health occupations class with Mr. [Joe] Scheil. I got certified
as a nurse's assistant," he said. Perez's areas of interest include sports medicine, orthopedics and surgery.
He hopes to attend the UNM School of Medicine. Roberto Gomez, associate dean of students at the UNM School of Medicine,
said that the pipeline program gives students from rural and small communities
in New Mexico the opportunity to get a foothold on campus life and get
prepared for basic coursework at UNM. "Our goal is to bring New Mexico's talented youth into the health
professions. In order to do that we need to reach out, not just to high
schools, but to mid-schools, as well. We want to help them improve in
the areas of math, science and English so that they will test better on
the ACT and SATs," he said. He added that the UNM Health Sciences Center received a federal grant
for health careers opportunity programs. Pehr said that coming to UNM was entering "the real world,"
reflected through the diversity of faculty, staff and students. "It
was an adjustment from Artesia to Albuquerque, but it was easier because
I had been here in the summer," she said. Perez said he thinks it's important for freshmen to live on campus. "That
first year I didn't live in Albuquerque, I lived at UNM. Students get
to meet other people by living in the dorms and it helps to stay on track
with school," he said. This year, Perez lives off campus with two other UNM students, but works
on campus in UNM's Payroll Department, which, he said, allows him to schedule
work between classes. Pehr, lives on campus again this year, residing in the DeVargas dormitory,
but she works off campus at a clothing store in Coronado Shopping Center.
"The more I work, the more I study. I know I have to get my study
time in when I have a block of time available," she said. Both recommend UNM and the bridge programs that help students make a
smooth transition into University life. UNM President Louis Caldera would
agree. In a recent meeting he said, "Bridge programs need to be expanded
to reach more New Mexico students." For more information about the UNM School of Engineering's summer programs, call Carlon Ami at 505-277-0346. For more information about the UNM Health Sciencesprograms contact Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott at 505-272-2728. # # #
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Please let us know what you thought of this article. Comments to: paaffair@unm.edu |
The
University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
MSC01 1170
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981
Taking
part in summer programs is a good way to jumpstart a college education,
according to Sandra "Renee" Pehr and Steven Perez. Both are
2002 graduates of Artesia High School (AHS) and sophomores at the University
of New Mexico. 
"The
program lasted a month. I had the opportunity to meet new friends by spending
the day in class and living on campus. I also got to know the campus,
who people are and where to find them," she said.