KINGSVILLE (March 11, 2026) – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) attended the TAFE Teach Tomorrow Summit in Dallas February 26–28.
Many members, including from TAMUK, took part in competitive events. This year marked a record-breaking 2,520 contest entries. The students prepared their entries beforehand and brought the finished product to the conference for judging.
Members from A&M-Kingsville placing in the top 10 and thus advancing to the national competition included
- Carolynn West, a junior from Kingsville, and Tehya Rodriguez, a junior from Sugar Land placed in Interactive Elementary Bulletin Board, elementary; and
- Samantha Cruz, a freshman from Kingsville, placed in Children’s Literature.
All three are Early Childhood through sixth grade majors. They qualified to compete at the Educators Rising National Conference, June 20-23 in Portland, Oregon.
About Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)
TAFE is a statewide co-curricular Career and Technical Student Organization that provides young people with the opportunity to explore the teaching profession. This three-day conference brought together more than 3,700 students from across Texas who are interested in pursuing careers in education. The event allowed attendees to connect with peers who share similar goals, gain insight into becoming successful college students, and develop the foundational skills needed to become effective future educators. This year’s conference theme, Blooming in the Garden of Education, emphasized planting seeds of growth and cultivating leadership.
TAFE’s mission is to encourage students to explore careers in education while fostering character, service, and leadership skills essential for success in the profession. Throughout the conference, members participated in a variety of breakout and general sessions designed to strengthen these skills.
“TAFE is not only an organization—it is a family that unites and empowers all students to grow, connect, and lead with purpose within their communities. It is my hope that all attendees found a place to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about becoming educators,” said Monica Oliver, TAFE State Director.
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