STX ILP is an authorized chapter of the Ivy League Project (ILP) founded by Mr. Martin Mares of Parlier, California
Bringing the Ivy League Project to South Texas
Founded in 1992 by Martin Mares the ILP began with a powerful belief:
Students from rural, working-class, immigrant, and underrepresented communities deserve access to the nation’s most selective universities.
What began in California’s Central Valley has grown into a long-standing college access movement built around preparation, exposure, confidence, and networks.
The South Texas Ivy League Project operates as an authorized chapter of the Ivy League Project, bringing this proven model to South Texas through the Tequio Leadership Center.
STX ILP honors the foundation of the original Ivy League Project while adding a South Texas-specific focus on cultural grounding, family engagement, identity, and intercultural leadership.
Led by College Knowledge and Family Engagement Expertise
Program Leadership in South Texas
STX ILP is led by Dr. Marylyn Valencia Rivera, an educational leader whose work centers on college knowledge, parent engagement, dual language education, intercultural learning, and student leadership development.
Dr. Valencia holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona. Her dissertation focused on improving college knowledge among parents of aspiring first-generation college students, making her expertise especially aligned with STX ILP’s family-engaged college access model.
Dr. Valencia brings her experience in:
- Parent College Knowledge
- College Access & Advising
- Dual Language & Intercultural Education
South Texas students already have the talent
STX ILP provides the preparation, guidance, exposure, and network.
STX ILP prepares students not only to apply to selective universities, but to enter those spaces with confidence, purpose, and grounding.
The program is designed to help students pursue competitive university pathways, understand selective college admissions, develop strong academic and leadership profiles, strengthen communication and networking skills, complete meaningful passion or research projects, remain connected to family values and cultural traditions, become intercultural ambassadors, and return leadership and service back to their communities.
WHO STX ILP SERVES
Jr. Ivy Leaguers introduces 6th and 7th grade students to the language, habits, and possibilities of selective college pathways. Through age-appropriate exposure, students begin building confidence, curiosity, academic identity, and awareness of what long-term preparation can make possible.
This pathway helps younger students start early without the full commitment of the core STX ILP cohort.
Ivy Leaguers are high-achieving and high-potential South Texas students selected for the core STX ILP experience. Students participate in leadership development, soft-skill training, college-admission coaching, cultural grounding, profile development, and passion project preparation. Eligible students in grades 9–11 who meet program expec
Ivy Leaguers are high-achieving and high-potential South Texas students selected for the core STX ILP experience. Students participate in leadership development, soft-skill training, college-admission coaching, cultural grounding, profile development, and passion project preparation. Eligible students in grades 9–11 who meet program expectations may also participate in the Summer East Coast College Trip.
STX ILP+ extends selected South Texas Ivy League Project programming to Mexicayotl Level IV students and alumni through a virtual participation option. This pathway allows students connected to Mexicayotl Academy to benefit from college access, leadership development, cultural grounding, and application preparation connected to the STX ILP model.