Students leave mark at TAFE conference
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) future teachers recently achieved state success at the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) Teach Tomorrow Summit held in Roundrock, Texas. TAFE recruits students from all over Texas to explore teaching as a profession and give them insight on a career they may pursue.
The three-day conference consisted of more than 3,500 students from across the state, including three Javelinas – Kylie Valenta, Natalie Pittman and Isabella Perez. This was the first year the chapter was established at TAMUK and therefore was the first year any students attended the conference. During this conference, students had the opportunity to compete in more than 37 competitive events, 24 of which advanced to the national level.
Kimberly London, a professor for the UNIV class at the College of Education & Human Performance, sponsors the three students who competed.
“Given my current roles within the college, I jumped on the chance to be the adviser and help amplify the impact for student growth and success within our college,” London said.
Two of TAMUK’s competitors, Pittman and Valenta, advanced to nationals and will compete at the conference held in Washington, D.C over the summer.
“Being able to qualify for nationals as freshman and in the first year of the chapter sets the bar really high for our future success,” London said.
Pittman has had experience with TAFE before competing in the Educational Leadership Fundamentals contest during her senior year of high school.
“This was the first year I was able to compete in person and I liked that a lot more,” Pittman said.
Pittman also expressed how the TAFE conference helped better prepare her for her future career goals. For Pittman, the public speaking contest in which she qualified for nationals was one to remember.
“My public speaking speech helped me because as a teacher you’re not always going to only talk to students, you may also have to speak in front of bigger crowds and knowing how to give speeches properly can help any profession,” Pittman said.
As for Valenta, she credits TAFE for allowing her to further her skills in education.
“Getting to participate in TAFE has been the highlight of my college career so far,” Valenta said.
Valenta also discussed the value of hard work and how it has helped her through this journey.
“Competing at area was very fun, and getting to state was so rewarding. I had some issues at state with my health, but I still competed and I’m so glad I did because making it to nationals is one of my biggest accomplishments,” Valenta said.
For more information on TAMUK’s TAFE chapter, students are encouraged to contact London at kimberly.london@tamuk.edu.
