South Texas College's dual enrollment medical science academy was so successful in Starr County that Hidalgo County high school students are now set to take advantage of the opportunity as well.

STC administrators have already approved about 40 students from 13 high schools throughout Hidalgo County to attend classes at its Pecan campus starting Aug. 25.

"We're hoping this one will be just as successful as the (one in) Rio Grande City," said Nicolás González, the college's director of high school programs.

The Starr County program began two years ago to allow students there who are interested in medical careers to earn college credit while still attending high school. Of the 17 students who enrolled in the program the first year, 16 graduated with an associates degree in biology, as well as their high school diploma. All 13 students in the second group that enrolled graduated from the program, he said.

Students enrolled in the academy also interned at local healthcare facilities, González said.

They attended classes at their high schools in the morning and took college courses in biology, chemistry, history and English at STC in the afternoon.

The college courses incorporate material pertaining to the medical field into the curriculum. So a U.S. history class would include the country's history of healthcare and medicine and an English class would include lessons on cataloguing, González said.

Somer Salameh, a 15-year-old junior at Sharyland High School, is looking forward to starting classes at the college this fall.

"I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Somer said.

She moved to the Rio Grande Valley from Houston last year and had never heard of a program like this one.

Somer already has some medical experience, working in the business office at her father's medical practice in Mission, where he is a urological surgeon. She hopes to follow in her father's footsteps to become a doctor some day.

"I have a great desire to help others," she said.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.