About the Tapia Center
The Tapia Center is designed to empower motivated, academically successful, underrepresented students, who are passionate about their education. The programs open Rice University and higher educational experiences to emerging scholars deserving of academic opportunity. The Tapia Center has educated nearly 250,000 students and professionals about the importance of diversity and representation to date.
Sponsorship Opportunities
By supporting the Tapia Camps, you will help teach youth the significance and process of one of the most urgent solutions to slow climate change through new curriculum. Your assistance will hep the Tapia Center create a pipeline of talented, knowledgeable and skilled individuals for energy companies to recruit amid a declining pool of applicants, and position Texas as a world center for the industry and job opportunities over the next decade and beyond.
There are many ways to support the Tapia Camps as an individual or corporation. To discuss unique sponsorship opportunities for your company, please contact The Dr. Leticia Velazquez at (713)348-2845 or via email at leti@rice.edu.
Who is Dr. Richard Tapia?
The Tapia Camps are named after Professor Richard Tapia. Dr. Tapia is a mathematician and professor in the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is internationally known for his research in the computational and mathematical sciences and is a national leader in education and outreach. Professor Tapia holds prestigious positions of University Professor and Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering. Dr. Tapia is the director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education and is a recipient of the National Medal of Science.
Dr. Tapia created the Tapia Camps as a way to promote excellence and equity in STEM through subject exploration for middle and high school students. Campers hear firsthand from Dr. Tapia and are inspired to pursue their passions in STEM.
Learn more about Dr. Tapia>
What Makes Tapia Camps Special?
Challenging STEM Curriculum
At Tapia Camps, campers are not limited to just one interest; they are able to focus on multiple STEM subjects throughout the week. Campers learn directly from Rice University students, with course material designed by research members, led by the camp director Professor Paul Hand. New curriculum focuses on modern STEM problems that affect the real world, such as technical concerns relating to carbon capture and storage. Students get to enjoy the college experience while interacting with professors, STEM professionals, and Professor Richard Tapia, recipient of the National Medal of Science.
Communication
To have a successful career in STEM, and in other fields, individuals must be able to communicate their ideas effectively and be able to work in teams. Campers learn and practice public speaking skills and collaborate with fellow students to complete STEM projects. At the end of the camp, campers present their final projects in front of professors, students, and Dr. Richard Tapia.
Equity
The Tapia Camps curriculum is a unique blend of STEM concepts in the context of societal equity. Campers explore equity concerns in their projects and hear firsthand from a diverse range of academics and professionals on their work and experiences in STEM.
Read about our awards>
Read about our impact>
Impact
Over 1,600 students and 375 educators have attended the Tapia Student and PD Camps. The rising 8th-12th graders that attend the Tapia STEM Camps learn directly from undergraduate and graduate students in diverse classroom settings and hear from STEM professors and industry professionals. During the week, campers build friendships and experience a taste of college life by living in the dorms, and by the end of the week, they leave more confident in themselves and their ability to be a leader in the STEM fields. The K12 educators that participate in the Tapia PD Camps immerse themselves in Project-Based learning, build community with other educators, and interact with Rice University students and faculty. Dr. Tapia shares personal stories with students and educators about the impact of education and the importance of inclusion and representation throughout academia and industry.
