While most high school students are home enjoying their summer vacation, Nixon High School students Valeria Montemayor and Bella Dancause are spending part of their summer enhancing their high school studies by attending classes at New York University (NYU). Montemayor, who is a senior, was selected for the six-week NYU Pre-College Program while Dancause, who is a junior, is participating in the two-week NYU College and Career Lab (CCL)Program’s Media Studies and Lab.
As a pre-college student at NYU this summer, Montemayor will earn up to eight college credit hours, connect with NYU faculty and classmates, and has access to the resources, community, and global network that makes NYU unique. She is also receiving personal academic advising, developing research skills using the NYU Library System, and engaging with classmates through events and activities. In addition, Valeria is attending a series of workshops geared toward preparing her for the college application process.
Montemayor was thrilled to learn she was going to NYU for the summer. “I’m very excited. I think I had a late reaction because it didn't hit me until like right now,” said Montemayor. “So basically, I’m here at NYU, studying and getting college credit out of it. I’m living the college life with some restrictions.”
While in New York, Valeria is making the most of her opportunities. “I’m exploring, making new friends, and learning a lot in the classes that I'm taking. I hoping to become more independent because I’m staying in New York by myself. I’m living in the dorms here at NYU so I'm getting a little taste of the college life,” said Montemayor. “I'm excited to just meet a different variety of people with the same interests as me. New York is very theatrical, Broadway is here, and it's very big on fashion. It's interesting meeting a lot of people that hopefully have a lot of the same interests as me.”
“I would definitely like to thank my parents specifically but also my friends because, I'm very lucky to have grown up with very supportive people,” said Montemayor. “My parents especially my mom has always been on top of me about my grades and about my school education. So, they're the ones that really pushed me to do this program and I'm so glad that they did because now I get this wonderful opportunity.”
Dancause is participating in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communications at NYU Steinhardt Media Studies and Lab Program where she is diving into college style lectures and intensive workshops led by NYU faculty and undergraduate students, receiving introductory courses, mentorship, advising, and a specialized CCL curriculum to enhance soft skills and prepare for the college application process. As a CCL Scholar Bella will be introduced to the field of guiding concepts of media studies. There will be a focus on the intersection of social justice and media studies, where she will learn from visiting guests offering post-collegiate career options. Bella will work in groups on a media-making sound project that engages in topic analysis and research.
Bella, who has never been out of the State of Texas, was overwhelmed with emotions when she found out she was accepted to the Summer Program at NYU. “I was very excited. The first thing I did when I got the great news was call my best friend and my Aunt Nelda,” said Dancause.
“The program that I'm doing offers different areas of study so I'm doing the media lab. I’m learning about the different social cultures and how important different mediums like social media and TV are to our society,” said Dancause. “I'm working on a podcast with a group of people, so I’m really interested in learning about that. I’m excited to meet and interact with all the students from different backgrounds.”
While at NYU, Bella is taking in as much of New York City as possible. “I’m seeing the campus and getting a feel for New York because I have never been there,” said Dancause. After I’m done with my studies, I plan on sightseeing as much as I can. I want to go to the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum, Time Square, and all the different parks.”
Valeria is a standout athlete at Nixon, where she is a four-year letterman in tennis and swimming. She is also a student at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts. As for extra-curricular activities Montemayor is a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, One Act Play, Rotary Club, and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council,
Montemayor plans on majoring in Musical Theater at the Tisch School of Arts at NYU. She hopes to pursue a career in theater or film as an actor.
Bella is also a student at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts and the Business, Industry, and Public Service (BIPS) Early College Academy at NHS. Dancause’s extra-curricular include National Honor Society, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Junior Class President, Vice-President of the Interact Club, One Act Play, Student Council, Film Club, Debate, and UIL Literary Criticism
Dancause plans on majoring in Business at the Steinhardt Business School at NYU. After college, Bella plans on attending Law School and becoming a lawyer.
Aside from attending NYU this summer, both Valeria and Bella have had a very busy summer. Montemayor has been focused on summer practice for tennis and swimming, while Dancause completed her English 1301 class and participated in the Hoby Leadership Seminar at the University of Texas at Austin.