Dr. Manuel Berriozabal’s “Prefreshman Engineering Program” (PREP) began in 1979, and is responsible for educating thousands of underprivileged and minority students in math and science.

More than 20 years ago, “Dr. B” observed that there was a significant under-representation of people of color in the fields of engineering and science. He was certain that this drain of talent occurred somewhere between the elementary and college years - and he set out to do something about it. He set up PREP, a rigorous, mathematics-based enrichment program offered on college campuses in the summer for promising middle school and high school students. PREP gives participants the opportunities to hone their abstract-reasoning and problem-solving skills through courses and laboratories that are normally not offered to students at that level.

In 1997, San Antonio PREP received the nation's highest recognition – the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Under Dr. B’s leadership, the program is now offered in cities throughout Texas, including Arlington, Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Edinburg, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, and San Angelo.

Dr. B's brainchild has captured the imagination and support of an extraordinary coalition of public and private donors, attracting nearly $30 million in resources. This July, San Antonio PREP will graduate its 26th class, helping to produce what will undoubtedly become part of San Antonio's future technology workforce.

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