#Code_IT Campers learn to build and program robots with focus on Artificial Intelligence
02
July
2024
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18:07 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Texas Workforce Commission keeping eye on competitive future by supporting DMC’s coding camp with $23K grant to encourage youth to pursue computer science and other high-tech fields
Article by Melinda Eddleman
The #Code_IT Camp at Del Mar College (DMC) has become a popular summer activity for middle schoolers with the West Oso Independent School District (ISD), along with other youth from around Corpus Christi. In fact, all 18 seats for the second week of the highly sought-after camp, or 36 seats if you count both weeks of camp, filled up early with a waiting list already set for summer 2025.
Code Camp 2024_Students at Computers Learning Coding
This year marked the sixth time the College has offered the camp for sixth through eighth graders, who have the opportunity to spend some summertime learning the principles of computer science, programming and coding.
Scheduled consecutively June 17-28, DMC offered the two 2024 camps free to participants thanks to a $23,100 Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) grant as part of the commission’s Camp Code Program. The TWC’s program was developed as part of the overall goal of keeping the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is now a high-tech world.
Grant funds support coding camps across Texas that address the state’s initiative to show young minds the possibilities that await them by encouraging students to pursue high-tech STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
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When finished, campers will have spent a week learning about technology and staying engaged with hands-on activities that build on their problem-solving and analytical skills. The end-game is that they will see this summer camp as a building block toward their future, which in turn, is building upon the competitive sustainability of Texas’ economy.
Dara Betz, DMC Workforce Programs Director and Coding Camp Coordinator
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Code Camp 2024_Angela LI_Flour Bluff ISD_Computer Work
Angela Li works on her programming skills on a computer during the second week of Del Mar College’s sixth #Code_IT Camp. The Flour Bluff Independent School District student joined 17 other campers to learn learn about computer sciences, programming as part of a grant-funded Texas Workforce Commission initiative to encourage and entice youth across the state to enter STEM fields as part of Texas’ future workforce. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
Code Camp 2024_DMC Computer Science Professor Dr_Phillip Davis with Camper Evelyn James
Incarnate Word Academy student Evelyn James shows Del Mar College Computer Science Professor Dr. Phillip Davis her coding on a laptop during the sixth DMC #IT_Code Camp on June 26. Held on the Heritage Camus in the Venters Building, 18 campers participated during the second week that featured learning more advanced programming and coding using robots as well as a focus on Artificial Intelligence. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
Code Camp 2024_West Oso ISD Student Kane Odom_Smart Phone Programming
West Oso Independent School District student Kane Odom programs his robot using a smart phone during the 2024 #Code_IT Camp held at Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus. Eighteen sixth through eighth graders from around the Corpus Christi area learned how to build robots, programming and coding during the free camp support by a $23,000 Texas Workforce Commission grant to encourage and entice youth across the state to consider studies and careers in computer science. The funding is part of the commission\s Camp Code Program to keep the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is becoming a high-tech world. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
Code Camp 2024_DMC Computer Science Assistant Professor Korinne Caruso with Campers
Del Mar College Assistant Professor of Computer Science Korinne Caruso (second from left) advises 2024 #Code_IT Camp participants from the Corpus Christi area about their coding of a robot. As the sixth camp the College has held for middle school students, the summer camp teaches sixth through eighth graders about programming, coding and building robots to pique their interest in computer science for college studies and careers. This year’s camp also focused on Artificial Intelligence. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
Code Camp 2024_Computer Science Faculty Dr Phillip Davis and Yan Xu
Del Mar College Computer Science Professors Dr. Phillip Davis (left) and Yan Xu pose together during media day for the sixth #IT_Code Camp supported by the College’s Workforce Programs and Corporate Services Department and the Computer Science, Engineering and Advanced Technology Department to teach sixth through eighth grade participants robot building, programming and coding as an enticement to study and enter the field of computer science. Funded by a $23,000 Texas Workforce Commission grant as part of the commission’s Camp Code Program, which was developed as part of the overall goal of keeping the state and its workforce globally competitive in what is now a high-tech world.
Code Camp 2024_Evelyn James with Incarnate Word Academy_Robot Programming with Laptop
Incarnate Word Academy student Evelyn James programs her robot using a laptop computer during the June 26 media day at the Venters Building on the Heritage Campus. James is one of 18 students who attended Del Mar College’s 2024 #Code_IT Camp to learn about robot building, programming, coding and Artificial Intelligence. The free grant-funded summer camp is designed to entice and encourage Coastal Bend youth to pursue studies and careers in computer science and other related fields as part of the Texas Workforce Commission’s Camp Code Program to keep the state competitive with the ever-evolving global high-tech economy. (Credit: DMC College Relations)
About Del Mar College
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
Latest DMC News
- “Selections from the Permanent Collection” serving as precursor to DMC Art Program’s 60th anniversary celebration of national art show next springArticle by Melinda Eddleman If you have ever viewed the artwork selected for Del Mar College’s CAIN National Art Show, you can expect a stellar exhibit encompassing pieces purchased by the college for its permanent collection. The variety of 2- and 3-D artwork is one to be envied. Leading up to the 60th anniversary of the juried national show, which will open in February 2026, the Art Program with the DMC Art & Drama Department will offer an exhibit, “Selections from the Permanent Collection,” that features 43 pieces––20 drawings and 23 small sculptures–– purchased from each CAIN National Art Show for nearly six decades. You now have the chance to see these works. A free opening reception is scheduled Friday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. in CAIN Gallery, located on the first floor of the Fine Arts Center on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd., 78404). Get online directions and campus map. The event also features a cash bar and free hors d’ oeuvres. “Selections from the Permanent Collection” runs through Friday, Oct. 31. Galery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday and viewing is free. For more information about the opening reception and fall show, contact the DMC Art Office at 361-698-1216 or art@delmar.edu. The CAIN National Art Show attracts annually artists from all over the country who submit their 2- and 3-D artwork for consideration by well-known jurors. Each spring, three pieces among the national show also are selected for Purchase Awards for the college’s Permanent Collection. The fall 2025 show features some of these purchases, including works by renowned artists such as Ron Koehler, local artist Greg Reuter and Danville Chadbourne. Additionally, current DMC Assistant Professor of Art Nathan Ditzler is included among artists featured in the exhibit with work selected for the Permanent Collection before he was hired to teach at the college. “Selections from the Permanent Collection” celebrates the legacy of the late Joseph A. Cain and the national art show that he founded. Don’t miss the exhibit as Cain Gallery lights shine on some of the best artwork available for viewing this fall. Editor's note: Shown in the banner is artist Margit Iika’s painting titled” 1908’s No. 1.” Click on the other two artwork photos for cutlines and to download the JPEG.
- Eleventh Hour Registration for DMC’s Fall 2025 credit classes set for this Saturday, Aug. 23, at Heritage CampusArticle by Melinda Eddleman If you’ve planned to attend Del Mar College (DMC) credit classes this fall but haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late! One last opportunity, Eleventh Hour Registration, is scheduled for in-person registration and other assistance this Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Harvin Student Center on the Heritage Campus (101 Baldwin Blvd., 78404). Online registration for individuals with complete admissions files is available, too. Tuition and fees payment is due by 6 p.m. Aug. 25. Fall credit courses begin Monday, Aug. 25. Classes include 8-, 12-, 15- and 16-week sessions that provide students with scheduling options to fit into busy work, family, and life schedules. Both current and prospective students can view current course offerings in preparation to register. Additionally, current students can use WebDMC to check their financial aid status, review their degree plan and find other information. Prospective students needing to complete their admissions file can get more information about the process on the Admissions web page. Contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu about fall registration or visit www.delmar.edu/registration. Thinking about a career in hospitality? It’s BIG business in the Coastal Bend region, and no one knows that more than the professionals who work in the industry. In recent decades, Corpus Christi has ramped up its reputation as a coastal must-visit destination for fellow Texans in landlocked locales looking to get away for a bit as well as road-tripping visitors who hail from neighboring states. Because of anticipated growth, DMC has created a separate Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Department. In the Coastal Bend, the Texas Workforce Commission projected an employment increase from 2022 to 2032 of 8.5% for chefs and head cooks, nearly 8% for food service managers and 13.6% for lodging managers, and salaries are competitive as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Texas the median annual salary (MAS) for a chef or head cook is $56,520 while the MAS for a food service manager is $61,310 and $62,000 for a hotel manager in the Lone Star State. According to Visit Corpus Christi, tourism is the second-largest industry sector in the city and employs more than 24,000 people. Service-minded talent ready to make the most of their skills can now major in the department’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Programs. Additionally, the department is offering two new Occupational Skills Awards (OSAs) in Cook/Baker and Hospitality and Tourism. The Associate of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Management and Level II Certificates have also been updated to Hospitality and Tourism Management with two new classes in Convention and Meeting Management and Dining Room Service. Have questions about a career in the hospitality industry and current training at Del Mar College? Contact the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Department at 361-698-1856 or visit their web pages at www.delmar.edu/offices/cahm/index.html. This fall is a good time to start that career in the industry … even if you’re registering at the “eleventh hour.” Del Mar College is where you can “own your dreams.”
- College announces 2025 Recipient of Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence during Fall Convocation todayArticle by Richard Guerrero, Jr. Just outside the north-facing doors of Memorial Classroom Building (MCB) on the Heritage Campus is perhaps the most tangible example of Dr. Mark Robbins’ service learning-oriented approach to teaching: a Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for Del Mar College. The marker was the result of a multiyear student research project overseen by Robbins. Students Troy Nessner and Preston Martin poured over college records, old yearbooks, back issues of the student newspaper, Foghorn, oral histories and other historical documents to gather the requisite details for the marker’s application, which was approved long after the semesterlong project for Robbins’ Academic Cooperative class had received a grade. In his courses, Robbins focuses on experiential learning activities to help history – especially local history – come alive for his students. One such project was the subject of a Corpus Christi Caller-Times article by reporter Olivia Garrett in early 2023. Garrett detailed the preservation and documentation work on a historic yet mostly forgotten farmworker cemetery – Rancho Colorado Cemetery – in rural Nueces County by a group of students led by Robbins and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Anthropology professor Christine Reiser Robbins, Ph.D. The project remains ongoing to this day. Such examples are just a few reasons why Dr. Mark Robbins was recognized as the college’s 2025 Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence recipient during today’s fall convocation on the Heritage Campus in Richardson Performance Hall. Robbins is the 23rd recipient of the coveted faculty award established for its namesake, the late Dean Emeritus of Arts and Sciences and English Professor Dr. Aileen Creighton. Each year after the nomination and selection process, the college keeps honorees’ names in secret until a special video unveils the recipient for the campus community to see. The award represents Dr. Creighton’s legacy as a “master teacher” during her 41-year career with Del Mar College and serves as the benchmark faculty must emulate to receive the honor. Known for her dedication to students and higher education, the late educator’s example provides inspiration to DMC faculty. During his acceptance speech at Convocation today, Robbins noted that he has been inspired by a tradition of excellence during his time at the College. Robbins began teaching history in the Social Sciences Department at DMC in 2009 after holding teaching positions at Brown University, the University of Rhode Island-Providence and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. His work on oral history, labor history, memory, cultural history and consumer politics has appeared in Labor History, The Historical Journal of Massachusetts, American Educational History and The Sound Historian. He is the author of Middle Class Union: Organizing the ‘Consuming Public’ in Post-World War I America (University of Michigan Press 2017) and co-directs the South Texas Hispanic Farm Labor Communities Heritage Project. In a statement to the Creighton Award Selection Committee, Robbins said that his teaching philosophy draws on service learning, local history and community collaboration to empower his students to connect history to their lives and communities. In a statement to the Creighton Award Selection Committee, Robbins said that his teaching philosophy draws on service learning, local history and community collaboration to empower his students to connect history to their lives and communities. It is precisely these learning experiences that prompted colleague and 2019 Creighton Award recipient Dr. Bryan Stone, DMC Professor of History, to enthusiastically support Robbins’ nomination for the award. “Mark’s trademark approach and the thing that sets him apart from the average professor is experiential learning,” Stone stated in his nomination letter. “His students don’t just learn about history in a classroom but practice it with him in the field.” Perhaps the most telling example demonstrating Robbins’ impact is the support letter from DMC alumnus Jesse Kelton, now a successful mechanical engineer. The DMC Hall of Famer detailed his transformation from a nontraditional student who left high school to complete his GED a decade before becoming a DMC graduate with an associate’s degree in Physics in 2013. Kelton’s experience in Robbins’ class during his first semester at DMC helped him find his footing and thrive at the college and beyond. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Robbins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with high honors and high distinction from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 2003. One year later, he earned his master’s degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2009, Robbins earned his Ph.D. from Brown, where he served as a Teaching Assistant, Writing Center Associate and Visiting Instructor/Teaching Fellow. Robbins has been awarded several grants and received awards for teaching and research, including Teacher of the Year (2014); DisAbility Advocate of the Year; Excellence in Teaching Award for the Del Mar College chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success; Kenneth E. Hendrickson Jr. Best Article Award for Sound Historian; and the Daniel E. Kilgore Award for Local History. In addition, he is a member of the Nueces County Historical Commission and past Vice Chair of the City of Corpus Christi Landmark Commission. Click on each video for separate pop-up boxes to view them in their entirety:
- DMC hosts Texas Workforce Commission’s JET grant presentation to seven South Texas schools on Aug. 8 Includes (Video)Article by Melinda Eddleman On Friday, Aug. 8, Del Mar College (DMC) hosted the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) during a check presentation event recognizing Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) grant recipients to support career and technical education (CTE) training for South Texas high school students. Among the two community colleges and five independent school districts (ISDs) that received oversized checks representing a combined $1,692,417 were Del Mar College, Victoria College and Banquete, Calhoun County, Corpus Christi, George West and San Diego ISDs (read Office of the Texas Governor release). The oversized check awards from the commission were signed and then presented to each school by TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. DMC received a $313,833 JET grant for its Automotive Applied Technology Program with the Department of Architecture, Aviation and Automotive. The college also partners with four of the five ISDs that received the TWC’s grant to train their students in health care (Banquete, George West and San Diego) and in electronics (Corpus Christi). The JET grant funds DMC received were used to purchase high-tech training equipment to prepare students as technicians for modern vehicle repairs and maintenance in the automotive industry. That equipment includes: - Consulink Cruze 1.4L Engine Trainer includes new GDI and start/stop technology that allows students to perform a basic “road test” and engine diagnostics within the classroom. This trainer also teaches engine diagnostics. - Consulab Fuel Injection & GM Engine Management System is used to teach engine management technologies found in modern day vehicles. - Consulab Ohm’s Law and DC Circuit Trainers (Classroom Set) is a self-contained education learning system designed to assist instructors with teaching basic electrical and electronic theory and Ohm’s Law basics, covering fundamentals using the latest electrical components found in modern vehicles. - Consulab Engine Starting Test Traction, which is a bench used for teaching mechanical engine repair using OEM components that provide students with additional skills in engine diagnosis. - AC System Trainer with H-block is a complete A/C system with unique features designed to enhance the instruction of air conditioning physics. - Double-sided Automotive Lighting Trainer is a totally functional vehicle CAN bus trainer based on a Honda vehicle platform and includes all operational OEM vehicle systems, such as a functional multiplex and CAN Bus system, with a total of 11 system modules. - Consulab Advanced Electronics Moduponent Kit is a versatile, adaptable advanced electrical/electronic training series that allows student to build complex electronic circuits and provides instruction covering the use of multimeter and other testing equipment. The need for skilled automotive technicians and mechanics continues to grow and will exceed 60,000 nationally by 2032 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Texas’ Coastal Bend region shows high demand among employers to fill local positions in part due to a growing population generating increased vehicle registrations, along with a growing number of experienced technicians retiring from the field. DMC’s Automotive Applied Technology Program not only trains college-age students but also currently partners with three ISDs in CTE training––Corpus Christi (Miller High School), Calallen and Gregory-Portland––to fill the area’s employment gap in this field. The collaboration to prepare these future technicians is part of the college’s Dual Enrollment Program through Memorandums of Agreement. Students earn college credits toward the Suspension, Driveline, Brake Specialist Level I Certificate, which are stackable credentials that allow them to proceed with earning the Automotive Applied Technology Program’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. For employers, finding automotive repair and maintenance technicians with the right skill sets is a growing challenge as vehicle complexity increases. The equipment purchased using the JET grant has allowed the college to upgrade its program’s training lab to meet the highest standards and produce well-trained technicians that industry employers seek for repairs and maintenance among today’s vehicles. Recently, the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation awarded its nationally recognized Program Training Accreditation to DMC’s Automotive Applied Technology Program. Students who earn their ASE certification are considered prime candidates for hire in the automotive repair industry. The college’s Automotive Applied Technology Program offers Level I and II Certificates in addition to the AAS degree. Curriculum and hands-on lab skills training provide for entry-level employment and prepares students for Automotive Service Technology entry-level ASE certifications. More details about the college’s Automotive Applied Technology Program are available online at www.delmar.edu/degrees/automotive-applied-technology/index.html. View highlights of speakers' remarks below:
- DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 12Article by College Relations Office Tuesday, Aug. 12, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the college’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available online at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-board-meeting-packet-8-12-25.pdf. Meeting agendas and other resources are also available on the DMC Board of Regents web page at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/index.html. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors are a priority for Del Mar College. To view the College’s guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.
- DMC’s Aug. 2 One Stop Saturday draws nearly 650 registrants for fall credit courses, other registration opportunities available throughout August (VIDEO)Article by Melinda Eddleman If you missed it, don’t worry! Even though Del Mar College (DMC) held its last One Stop Saturday on Aug. 2 with nearly 650 participants completing the admissions process, speaking with advisors and financial aid staff and registering for Fall 2025 credit courses, other opportunities are still available throughout August to “take care of business.” Fall credit courses begin Monday, Aug. 25. Classes include 8-, 12-, 15- and 16-week sessions that provide students with scheduling options to fit into busy work, family and life schedules. Further opportunities to register for DMC’s fall semester include: • Currently through Monday, Aug. 18: ongoing Online and On-Campus Registration and Advising at Student Enrollment Centers and academic department offices during normal business hours. • Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 19-20: Online and On-Campus Registration with extended facility hours from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuition and fees payment is due by 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. On-Campus Registration and Admissions assistance (online directions and campus maps) is available on all three DMC campuses at the following facilities: • Heritage Campus – Harvin Student Center, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404) • Windward Campus – Coleman Center, 4101 Old Brownsville Rd. (78405) • Oso Creek Campus – Main Center Building, 7002 Yorktown Blvd. (78414) A final Late Registration Saturday is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Harvin Student Center on the Heritage Campus. Tuition and fees payment is due by 6 p.m. Aug. 25. “Just as we conducted our last One Stop Saturday, DMC faculty and staff will assist current and potential Vikings with any eleventh-hour needs they have to get started the following Monday as the semester begins,” noted Martinez of the Late Registration opportunity. “We’re excited and ready to begin this next academic year and to welcome everyone beginning the next path to reaching their goals and owning their dreams by attending Del Mar College.” Both current and prospective students can view course offerings, which are frequently updated throughout the registration process. Additionally, students can use WebDMC to check their financial aid status, review their degree plan and find other information. Current students also need to contact the department of their declared major for specific instructions (access the Academic Advisor Directory). Prospective students needing to complete their admissions file can get more information about the process on the Admissions web page or contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center. To learn more about registration opportunities, payment deadlines and other pertinent information, visit www.delmar.edu/registration or contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu about fall registration. View visual highlights of the Aug. 2 One Stop Saturday by clicking on the video below:
