San Antonio High School Students Engage in Intensive Science Program

San Antonio, Texas, has hosted dozens of high school students this summer as part of the Valero Young Scientist Program, held at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. This initiative, which completed its third season, brought rising juniors and seniors from 24 local high schools into professional laboratories over four weeks for hands-on science education.

Many participants hail from low-income communities, where similar educational opportunities are often scarce. Throughout the program, students engaged in various scientific experiments using industry-standard tools. Activities included gene editing, mouse dissections, and soil testing from their own homes, mirroring the work done by Texas Biomed's researchers.

Dr. Rosemary Riggs, the director of education outreach programs at Texas Biomed, emphasized the value of the experience for the students: “The laboratory activities that they do mirror those which are done in our research labs. The students are gaining skills that will prepare them for a future in science.”

For students like Bailey Ann Flickinger, a rising senior at Health Careers High School, the program has been transformative. She expressed a newfound appreciation for the research behind clinical science, stating, “In order to get to the clinical parts of science, you have to do the research. The importance of research is one of the greatest things I’ve learned here.”

The program also helps students beyond academic knowledge, providing them with professional skills such as networking opportunities and experience in public presentations. Participants leave with updated LinkedIn profiles and connections to working researchers in the field. “We get to mesh everything together,” said another participant. “When you go out into the world, you don’t just need to know the content area of science.”

Friendships have flourished among the students, who noted the unique environment that fosters their shared passion for science. “It’s really special to be in a place where we all chose to be here,” said another student. They all share a common goal—to deepen their understanding of science.

Highlighting the program's lasting impact, some former participants returned as assistant lab managers and mentors for current students. Ashton Mendez, who graduated from Somerset Academy Collegiate Charter School, noted how the program shaped his career ambitions: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do at all until I came to this program. I found a love for science.” Mendez plans to study biology at St. Mary’s University with a focus on biomedical research.

Dr. Riggs remarked on her favorite aspect of the program: watching the students evolve throughout their experience. “The growth is phenomenal. They gain confidence—not just in their laboratory skills, but in how to communicate and collaborate.”

The program has been praised for not only fostering scientific skills but also building strong professional and personal networks among young aspiring scientists in San Antonio.