Office of Engaged Scholarship and learning hosted workshop on the Brownsville campus Emilio Suarez / Vaquero Radio
The Office of Engaged scholarship and learning hosts several workshops throughout the year intended to help students apply for funding opportunities and make their dreams and long term goals come true.
Engaged Scholarship and Learning Program Manager Robert Longoria said the workshop is intended to give students the opportunity to receive awards between $2,000 to $4,000 every academic semester.
Longoria said research isn’t something students need to wait until after graduation to pursue.
“If you’re interested in building your career, you don’t have to wait, you can start today,” he said.
The program manager said research opportunities are available across a wide range of disciplines, from Biomedical sciences to creative works and community engagement, allowing students to explore projects that match their interests.
According to Longoria, one of the biggest challenges students face is working through the application process, especially if they have never applied before.
“That’s kind of why we hold the workshop. Our office is actually here to help any students that have never done this before, ” he said.
Longoria added that funded research gives students hands-on experiences that can be a stepping stone to graduate school or a professional career.
Biomedical Science Junior Dylan Jimenez said he decided to apply to the engaged scholarship program after struggling to find research opportunities.
“I applied for the engaged scholarship award and luckily I got it, and so now I do research with a professor and I’m able to do what I originally wanted to do,” he said.
Jimenez said he has learned it is very important to persevere and not give up when things are going sideways and added there are different ways to do something you really want to do.
Jimenez said he thinks programs like this are important for students who may not feel connected to campus.
“It not only provides them an opportunity to receive funding for something they’re passionate about, but to get them more involved,” Jimenez said.
For more information, visit utrgv.edu/engaged/ or call them at 665-3461 for Edinburg and 882-4300 for Brownsville.
