Our Community, Education, and Event Programming that
Your Membership Helps to Support

Pre-K – 1st GRADE:
”CURIOUS GEORGE” BILINGUAL READING PROGRAM

This is one of our newest additions to our annual educational programming, making its debut in 2025. Through hands on manipulatives, costumes, a fire truck, and a host of props, the children are taken through a fun and interactive  reading experience while Jorge, el curioso y los bomberos take them on a tour of a fire station. The program is designed to foster a love of books and reading while learning valuable fire safety lessons.  The initiative will partner with local elementary schools in the Lubbock area, many of whom we have partnered with for decades to bring their students on campus and thinking about going to college at a young age. Not to mention, this program also is hitting a big need, as bilingual education is in high demand in the Lubbock Region and in Texas. Going forward, new bilingual book titles will be added as resources allow.

Raider Rojos for decades has been focused on fostering a belief in students at a young age, that reading and education are important to their long-term success. We feel, if you wait until students get into high school to start targeting them for college career paths, you are probably already too late. Our research and studies show, instilling a love of reading at an early age is key to a child’s future success.

Curious George toy wearing a red firefighter helmet with a Raiders Rojos logo on it and matching red shirt with yellow text, sitting on a black surface against a beige wall.
Book cover titled "Curious George and the Firefighters" in English and "Jorge el curioso y los bomberos" in Spanish, featuring an illustration of Curious George in a firefighter's uniform, sitting next to a red fire truck with two firefighters inside, and firefighting gear nearby.

Pre-K – 2nd GRADE:
”MEET THE COLLEGE CHEER BEARS” READING PROGRAM

This program debuted in 2010, and since then Raiders Rojos has distributed over 50,0000 copies of the Meet the College Cheer Bears booklets at festivals and elementary schools in the Lubbock area. In addition, sets of 25 booklets were presented to elementary schools to retain in their libraries for use by teachers in a classroom setting. A set of the college cheer bears dolls was also provided to enhance the reading experience for students. Overall, with the focus on a love of reading, the book has students follow along as Joy, Star, Hope, and Grace take the Oso family of Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister on a campus tour - exploring campus from the visitor’s center to the student center, the library, a dorm room, and a college classroom. After a student’s participation, each of them receives a book to take home and share with their family. Plans to have the book translated into Spanish are already in the works.

A young boy lying on a yellow pillow on a blue bed, holding a yellow children's book titled 'Meet the CLeTZ Collection', with a second copy of the book next to him.
Children and adults gathered around a table with books, plush toys, and educational materials at a library or event, promoting college awareness and reading.

3rd - 12th GRADE:
CAREERS R US MOLD YOUR FUTURE

Raiders Rojos has been using the tools and educational materials for this program since 2012, bringing the interactive activity to students across the South Plains at career expos and in their schools. This interactive resource is part of a four-part program that introduces students to careers.  Utilizing the Careers Are Everywhere 48 page publication purchased from Texas Workforce, once students have explored careers and made their career choices, they mold a bendable figure to reflect that career using clay.  The students keep their creations. This is a favorite among all grade levels.

Group of teenagers sitting at a round table with red tablecloth, eating and smiling, with colorful
Group of young people sitting on the floor in front of colorful letters spelling "CAREERS FAIR" at a career event, with a large poster of a person and text in the background.

3rd – 12th GRADE:
”REALITY CHECK” INTERACTIVE PROGRAM

Like the Mold Your Future initiative above, Raiders Rojos has been executing this program since the early 2000s. This interactive resource is also part of the Careers R Us Program, and introduces students to the realities of life - from finances to overall quality of life based on the education they have attained.  Each student receives a money wallet corresponding to one month’s salary for a high school graduate, trade/associate’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree. They visit the stations for housing, food, transportation, childcare, and clothing, and make purchases for their assigned family of 4. Between taking care of their family and receiving at least one unexpected life expense such as a flat tire or medical bill, reality sinks in.  The debriefing session after the activity is the most important component of the activity, as students share their experiences and make realizations about budgeting, learn to earn, and quality of life expectations in the real world.

Children and adults at a booth labeled 'Childcare' with money, brochures, and informational materials, at a crowded event or conference.
Children in line at a table with adults, exchanging money and informational materials at a fair or event.
Book cover titled 'Wiley's Way El Camino de Wiley' featuring a cartoon character with glasses, a blue shirt with a yellow 'W', green pants, and a backpack, standing against a blue background with a list of names.

4th – 12th GRADE:
”WILEY’S WAY” BILINGUAL CHAPTER BOOK

As is the theme with a lot of Raiders Rojos’ programming, we seek to instill education and the love of reading into students at a young age so as to get them prepared for college down the road. Wiley’s Way - El Camino de Wiley is the story of a crab that wanted knowledge, so he decided to go to college. This program is suited for students in various grades levels, and is also a bilingual chapter book that teaches students about the inner workings of preparing, accessing financial aid, and at the end of the day learning how they are going to pay for college through the experiences of the titular character of the book, Wiley.

What makes this programming ever more special, the book was written by Texas high school students, adding an even more touching level to the impact this educational tool has on its audiences. Raiders Rojos began delivering the tool to students since the early 2000s.

Children and adults in a room with two people in mascot costumes, one with a large pig head with big eyes and the other with a large dog head, posing for a photo.
A young man holding a certificate of scholarship with two adults, all smiling and making guns up. The background shows a large banner and school-themed decorations for Texas Tech

| TEXAS TECH STUDENTS |

RETENTION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Raiders Rojos provides scholarships to first-generation college students, sophomores and higher classifications annually, and has awarded more than Half a million dollars to students since the program was started in 2001.  In fall 2025, $56,000 was awarded, marking it the largest dollar amount the organization has ever disbursed through a record number 28 scholarships. Donors are a great mix of individuals, businesses, and families seeking to pay it forward, or are providing a memorial scholarship in a loved one’s name.  Scholarship awards are currently $2000 to each recipient. Minimum donations are $1000, and all contributions are tax deductible as Raiders Rojos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more info, VISIT HERE.


GRADUATION CONVOCATION

Every May and December, Raiders Rojos hosts a Graduation Convocation that emphasizes the Hispanic/Latino culture, however any graduate is welcome and encouraged to participate. Graduates, as part of participating and attending the event, receive a complimentary cultural serape stole to wear at their own Texas Tech commencement.  The Convocation allows families of the graduate to gather and celebrate their student’s achievement in a more intimate setting. The most recent Convocation in May 2025 was held at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, while the December 2025 itiration also will be held in the Conference space of the hotel that is located directly across the street from Jones AT&T Stadium. In 2025 alone, Raiders Rojos expects to celebrate over 600 Graduates between the Spring and Fall Graduation Convocations, with another 1,500 - 2000 family members cheering them on from the crowd. For more details, CLICK HERE.

Two men smiling and holding a certificate of scholarship, standing in front of Raider Red
Three women at a Raiders Rojos graduation convocation ceremony, two in academic regalia and one in a white dress, smiling and wearing Cultural stoles, also called serape stoles
Graduates in black caps and gowns sitting in rows at a ceremony, wearing colorful kente cloth stoles.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

While our membership dues and support is key to continuing our annual programming across the community and for Texas Tech students outlined below, the core of our work is anchored by our Raiders Rojos volunteers. If you would like to get involved, we would love to have you be a part - fill out the form to become a volunteer. After we receive your inquiry, a member of the Raiders Rojos Board will be in touch. In the meantime, take a look at our ongoing programming featured below.