It’s usually enough of a reason to celebrate when a single student benefits greatly from a program that enhances their educational experiences. However, when an entire group of four sisters achieve the same feat, it’s enough to make people take notice.
That is the case with an incredible group of quadruplets who attended the most recent Texas Southmost College Texas ACE (TSC Texas ACE) Summer Camp program hosted at Texas Southmost College. Britany, Helen, Katerine and Madeline Torres eagerly jumped into the different classes and projects that were available as part of the two-week camp, getting hands-on experience with a wide variety of activities.
“My favorite one was the Lego camp,” said Britany, her sisters nodding in agreement. “We got to build mazes, and it was really fun.” In addition to that, the girls also participated in a variety of other projects based around in-demand jobs, such as learning about the purpose of insulation panels as part of the HVAC session. “There’s a lot of different stuff to do, so it’s always interesting to us,” commented Helen.
With their interests in so many different areas, this most recent iteration of the TSC Texas ACE Summer Camp is the third time that the girls are participating in the activities, capitalizing on every opportunity to learn and experience more. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of their biggest advocates is their father, Rolando Torres, who has witnessed firsthand the benefits of his daughters’ participation in TSC Texas ACE.
“This program is very good because it teaches children that there are many options for their future, sparking their curiosity about more things and technical skills that they can acquire to better serve them in their future careers,” he said.
TSC Texas ACE provides no-cost activities before and after school for K-12 students in Title I schools. It is federally funded through 21st Century Community Learning Centers and administered on the state level by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Amazingly, it was the quadruplets’ older sister Evelyn who first joined in with the TSCTexas ACE Summer Camp program, setting the pace and proving to be a positive role model for her sisters to follow.
“It’s because of Evelyn that we got introduced to this program,” said Torres. “They all saw the extra activities that they had available, so they wanted to get involved and gained more experience and confidence over time. It’s great because since they have autism, they gain more confidence by socializing with people.”
Roberto Maciel, a site coordinator for TSC Texas ACE stationed at Faulk Middle School, has seen the sisters continually participate in the summer camps. This has allowed him to get to know the Torres family and help them understand the program’s benefits in helping the sisters learn and grow.
“It’s a great environment for them to be in. It’s a place in which they can not only feel safe but also be motivated as they explore the projects and activities that really tie into their interests,” said Maciel.
To Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton, Director of Special Instruction Projects and TSC’s Texas ACE Program, seeing all of the pieces come together between the TSC Texas ACE Site Coordinators and the students they serve and is exactly the kind of impact she hopes to see.
“It is such a joy to hear about the positive impact of this program on Mr. Torres’ daughters, and with four daughters benefiting from the program, the impact is multiplied fourfold,” continued Dr. Tipton. “The dedication of TSC Texas ACE Site Coordinators like Roberto Maciel, who maintain direct contact with families, significantly enhances our ability to provide a safe and enriching environment for these children. The TSC Texas ACE Program is making a significant difference in children’s development, providing academic enrichment and greater confidence and social skills.”
When all is said and done, the TSC Texas ACE Summer Camp has become a staple of the Torres family’s summers, and youngest sister Kimberly will be alongside them as well. When asked if they were looking forward to the 2025 iteration of the camp, all sisters provided a simultaneous yes in response, laughing along with one another. “I’ll be excited to see what kinds of projects we’ll be able to do next year,” said a smiling Katerine. Her sisters were also smiling and nodding along in agreement.
