A&M–San Antonio welcomed nearly 350 elementary and middle school students to campus recently for the new Passport to College Challenge Summit and Showcase.
Launched in fall 2025 with support from Community First Health Plans, the year-long program engaged 16 classrooms in monthly activities to help build a college-going mindset through interactive “passport” workbooks focused on careers, goals, and the feeling of belonging in college.
The event began at the Recreation Center on campus with a welcome rally and a “graduation-style” recognition ceremony. There was also a posterboard showcase, with student-created exhibits featuring dream college vision boards, essays, and photos representing students’ future aspirations.
Afterwards, students and family members embarked on a campus tour, exploring classrooms and gathering spaces where college life happens every day. Participants also enjoyed lunch on campus, and Brandy McLelland, vice president of enrollment management, hosted a fireside chat for parents focused on supporting college aspirations at home, including what resources are available to help students stay on a path toward higher education.
“This program is about planting the seed early and helping students see that college is not just a distant idea, but something they can begin preparing for right now,” said Vanessa C. Torres, assistant vice president of enrollment marketing and recruitment. “When students start thinking about their goals, their talents, and their place in higher education at an early age, it changes how they view themselves and their future. The Passport to College Challenge makes that vision tangible, exciting, and deeply personal.”
Throughout the school year, participating classrooms completed one college- or career-themed activity each month using custom-designed college passport workbooks. With guidance from their teachers, students explored topics such as goal setting, creating a “dream college” vision board, participating in career dress-up days, and writing essays about why they belong in college.
Each completed activity earned students a “stamp” in their passport booklet, turning learning into an interactive challenge that built excitement and ownership. The work encouraged students to think about education pathways and their own aspirations in ways that children their age are typically not asked to consider.
“The beauty of this program is that it meets students where they are,” Torres said. “It uses creativity and curiosity to introduce concepts that might otherwise feel abstract. By the time they step on our campus, they already feel connected to the idea of being a college student.”
The Passport to College Challenge represents a significant expansion of A&M–San Antonio’s outreach initiatives, reaching students years before they ever fill out a college application. With support from Community First Health Plans, the program provided materials, incentives, and transportation to ensure access and participation for every classroom involved.
By engaging teachers and families alongside students, the program creates a broader support system around college readiness and long-term academic planning.
“This was much more than just a field trip. The goal of the program is to normalize the idea of college from an early age,” Torres said. “When students grow up seeing themselves as future college students, it shapes their choices, their confidence, and their expectations.”