EDINBURG, Texas - Ruben Cortez is a board director of Region One Education Service Center, representing Cameron County.
On October 20, 2025, Cortez spoke at an event held to celebrate Region One securing two GEAR UP grants supporting seventh graders at over 20 area school systems.
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a seven-year federal initiative designed to increase early college awareness, readiness and success for students. The program follows a cohort of students starting in 7th grade through their first year of post-secondary education.
In an exclusive video interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Cortez said Region One will implement its nationally recognized model among two cohorts of over 11,000 students at partner school systems to help promote post-secondary education.
