The Big Bend Rural Initiative for Success in Education (BB-RISE) will hold its official kickoff event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. at Sul Ross State University’s Espino Conference Center.
The event will feature remarks from Texas Senator César J. Blanco and SRSU President Dr. Carlos Hernandez, along with a BB-RISE student panel and area school district leaders. Lunch will be provided for attendees.
BB-RISE, a partnership between Marfa ISD, Marathon ISD, and Alpine ISD, was recently designated a Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) by the Texas Education Agency. The initiative will launch in the 2025–26 school year, giving Big Bend students expanded access to college credit, industry certifications, and career training opportunities through collaborations with Odessa College, Sul Ross State, and regional industry partners.
