Cardinals SOAR

Students Occupationally and Academically Ready

Cardinals SOAR (Students Occupationally and Academically Ready) a student commission for student access to higher education. SOAR services the Office of Community Relations, Economic Development and Student Access through service-learning opportunities on Cardinal NEST campus, in small group guidance sessions with BISD students in their NEST and at Community Engagement Events.

Together They SOAR

Teresa Simpson and College of Educaiton Student Council volunteer to set up NEST at Pietzsch MacArthur Elemntary — Lamar University Student Volunteers begin to support Cougar Today...Cardinal Tomorrow on NEST Campus.

2018 Southeast Texas Hispanic Society Queen reads to NEST Campus Students.

Lamar University Veterans student organization serves as keynote speakers at the Veterans Day Program.

Lamar University faculty member offers a reading program on the value of service animals.

The Cardinal NEST campuses, Pietzsch-MacArthur, Blanchette Elementary, and Charlton-Pollard Elementary Scholars' Mathletes and Reading Millionaires are recognized by Big Red at Lamar University to all of cardinal nation at the football season opener. President Ken Evans and SOAR members join BISD Scholars to celebrate their major accomplishments.

Teresa Simpson, Executive Director meets with South Park Scholars to develop, SOAR (Students Occupational and Academically Ready). The scholars are ready to SOAR over to their NEST campus and support their “Cardinals...Tomorrow”.

Lamar University student volunteers serve as judges at the District UIL Competition.

Lamar University Department of nursing offers health promotion programs.

Micheal Chism, Sales Consultant with Visual Techniques Inc. (VTI) provides professional workshops exploring the innovative technology available in the NEST.

LU College of Nursing offers dental hygiene programs to NEST campus.

SOAR and Big Red welcomes Associate Superintendent, Anita Frank to Lamar University men and women’s basketball season tip-off.

SOAR members from Tau Beta Sigma offer “Instrument Petting Zoo Night" for all N.E.S.T. Campuses.

SOAR offers “A Native American Storyteller” to all 3 NEST campuses.

Lamar University Softball Team welcomes Charlton – Pollard Elementary reading millionaires and mathletes to the season-opening game.

SOAR virtual tutoring — Fall and Spring 2020-2021 SOAR members served each Cardinal NEST campus by providing virtual ROAR sesssions (Reading aloud with 3 - 5th graders) and virtual tutoring ELAR 4th Grade, ELAR 5th and Math 5th grade tutoring. 30 minute sessions support need during 9am - 3pm monday - thursdays.
BISD:Cardinal NEST Campuses Continue to SOAR

LU student organization and Cardinal SOAR members, Engineers Without Borders build benches at the Greater South Park Community Garden.

Cardinal SOAR Advisory Board

Norman J. Bellard, Ex-Officio
Teresa E. Simpson, Ex-Officio
Kelsey E. Young, Ex-Officio

Maegan Collins
Clinical Instructor, Political Science
Advisor, Cardinal Cares

Rebekah Maxwell
Director, Scholarships, Lamar University
Advisor, Rotaract Club of Lamar University

Lori Wright
Clinical Instructor, Social Work
Advisor, Student Social Work Organization, Lamar University

Chuck Mason
President, Mason Construction

Emily Russell
Public Affairs Advisor, ExxonMobil
Employee Volunteer Coordinator, Exxon Mobil

Jessica Holmes
Customer Service and Community Outreach Analyst II
Employee Volunteer Coordinator, Entergy

Tony Aguliar
Director, Maintenance and Operations, Beaumont Independent School District

Cardinal SOAR Executive Board

Student Leadership Executive Board

Nancy Evans Memorial Scholars

Alejandro Gomez, President
Aurora Maldonado, Vice President
Arely Medina, Volunteer Chair
Aylin Galvan, Volunteer Chair
Valeria Ayala, Volunteer Chair
Emily Deal, Volunteer Chair