Communities Unite to Support College Enrollment on GenTX Day

AUSTIN, Texas, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, May 3, Generation TX (pronounced "Generation Texas") will see its third GenTX Day come to life as students, educators, businesses and nonprofits in local communities across the state wear college t-shirts and hold rallies in a unified show of support to promote a college-going and career-ready culture in their hometowns.

This year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), creators of the Generation Texas movement, is encouraging GenTX Day enthusiasts to take at least one of three steps towards college on GenTX Day:

• Fill out a college application
• Take a college tour
• Be a college mentor

THECB has expanded the GenTX Day campaign with a new theme for this year: "Take a Step on GenTX Day." The new theme is designed to motivate school and community groups to celebrate the day with college enrollment activities that help close educational gaps in their community. GenTX Day activities planned for this year include several new contests and a line-up of key community GenTX Day partners across the state. 

"It's been very exciting to see all the GenTX enthusiasm and support that continues to grow in communities all across the state," said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. "This year is all about taking that show of support to a higher level by expanding the call to action to put all of our students on a path to college and career readiness. If we all take a step in that direction on GenTX Day, it will inevitably create a major growth opportunity for our communities and our state."

Examples of activities around the state on GenTX day include:

• Amarillo: Texas Panhandle P-16 Council and West Texas A&M University are collaborating with Amarillo College and Clarendon College to hold a college application drive in the region.
• El Paso: El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence and The University of Texas at El Paso are collaborating with El Paso Community College to hold college application drives at area high schools.
• Laredo: Council for Educational Excellence and Texas A&M International University are partnering with Laredo Community College to hold college application drives at area high schools.
• Work-Study Mentorship Program: More than 700 work-study mentors in this THECB program have been trained to serve as college mentors on GenTX Day at campuses, potentially reaching some 160,000 high school and college students.
• San Marcos: SOAR P-16 Council and Texas State University will hold college signings at high schools throughout Central Texas. 

A full list of activities in each region of the state can be found in the GenTX Day section of www.GenTX.org.

The THECB also announced a series of contests to be held as part of GenTX day activities designed to encourage students, families and organization to unite and support college enrollment in their community.

• Your GenTX Success Story

Has Generation Texas helped guide you to college or inspired you to get more active in your community to create a college going culture? Submit your story about how GenTX has impacted your life. Deadline to submit your entry is 5 p.m. (CDT) on April 30. This contest is open to students in 6-12th grade, college students, organizations and select individuals based in Texas. Two grand prize winners will be awarded an iPad mini with two runner ups also receiving prizes. Go to http://is.gd/GenTXSuccessStory2013 to submit your entry. Some restrictions apply.

• The Best College Application Drive

On GenTX Day, there will be many schools, colleges, universities, nonprofits and community organizations holding college application drives. THECB will award the group that collects the most college applications with a College Tour Package: an expense-paid trip to take students on a college tour during 2013.  Deadline to submit your entry is 5 p.m. (CDT) on May 10. Go to http://is.gd/GenTXCollegeAppDrive to register your college drive effort. Some restrictions apply.

• Most Active College Tours  

THECB is encouraging groups around the state to take their students to visit a college campus on GenTX Day. THECB is holding a contest for the most active college tour. Ten college tours will be selected to receive a College Tour Package: an expense-paid trip to take students on a college tour on GenTX Day on May 3. Applications are due by 5 p.m. (CDT) on April 26.  Go to http://is.gd/GenTXtours to register your college tour plans. Some restrictions apply.

About Generation TX
Generation TX is a statewide initiative supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board focused on creating a college-going culture across the state.  Through GenTX Day and other seasonal promotions, Generation TX is clarifying the path to college for Texas students and families by providing information on college readiness, college application and financial aid in a fresh and engaging manner.  For more information, please visit www.GenTX.org

MEDIA NOTE

Photo Assets
To obtain a Generation TX logo: http://gentx.org/downloads/logo/

Video Assets
Intro to GenTX Day/2012 GenTX Day Recap: http://vimeo.com/44879432
2013 GenTX Day English Public Service Announcement: http://vimeo.com/51722602
2013 GenTX Day Spanish Public Service Announcement: http://vimeo.com/51722601

Follow us on Twitter: @GenerationTexas
Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/GenerationTX

RELATED LINKS
http://www.gentx.org

SOURCE Generation TX

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