The annual event hosted at Texas Tech DFW gives online learners the chance to meet their classmates in person.
One classroom echoed the sound of letters being spoken slowly and deliberately as students vied for the spelling bee championship. In another room, high school students tried their hand at culinary delicacies. In other spaces, students were learning the science behind the slime that would become bouncy balls and how to make test tubes glow in different colors with gases charged at high voltage. But for the nearly 60 Texas Tech K-12 students in attendance, the second Raiderpalooza event really was a day to meet classmates for the first time and strengthen relationships usually managed at a distance.
This Raiderpalooza, held Jan. 28, was the second annual in-person academic event hosted by Texas Tech University’s kindergarten through 12th grade school, showcasing why it has become a leader in online education statewide, regionally and around the globe over the past three decades.
The morning-long event, held at the Texas Tech DFW site in Irving, was open to current students and their families, prospective students, homeschoolers, school administrators and the public. Aside from the school’s annual commencement ceremony held on the Texas Tech campus each spring, there are few opportunities to gather a group of students in one place at one time. With many of the program’s online students in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the metroplex site provides the perfect place for the school’s yearly meet-up.
For Torri Vasquez, looking to graduate in May, this was her second time at the event. She originally attended Raiderpalooza last year to check out the facility, as it was where she would be taking her STAAR test. She had never been to an event like it before, and much to her surprise had an extraordinary time – so much so, she returned this year.
“There were a lot of exciting events to look forward to,” Torri said with a big smile. “When you first get here, they provide you with breakfast and a coffee bar, which is super helpful. Both years they’ve had a science lab. And they included a cooking class this year, which I really liked. It’s all very welcoming. The staff members are very kind and helpful; I cannot say enough good about them.”
Torri also got to meet her Anatomy & Physiology teacher Giuliana Fisher as well as many of her online classmates. For Torri it’s valuable to get to see them all face to face and know people in the same school.
Fourth-grader Sierra Ramirez noted that the boat challenge was her favorite part, along with getting to meet her English teacher Amy Boyd and science teacher Brett Mosley. Third-grader Gianluca Acosta was also excited about meeting Mr. Mosley and the boat challenge.
“The ‘float your boat’ challenge had us talking about the story of Archimedes, finding out how the water displaced from an object reflects its buoyant force and how we could use that information to build a model,” Mosley explained. “The kids only got two pieces of foil, two popsicle sticks, two straws and a piece of clay. With that, they constructed a boat that would hold marbles, floating in a tub of water. Holding over 100 marbles is considered pretty good; we had several over 100 marbles, and one went to 244, which is amazing! I am consistently impressed with our Texas Tech K-12 students. They’re such an engaging and curious group of kids.”
Raiderpalooza is both a showcase of all Texas Tech K-12 has to offer and a recruiting event for students who may want or need the flexibility of full-time online learning or the convenience of self-paced supplemental courses. After the 2024 event, administrators, teachers and other staff began making plans for this year’s event, which included purchasing swag, deciding on food, organizing activities and innumerable other details.
Aside from students, the large meeting room and other side rooms nearly overflowed with teachers and advisors, family members and visitors.
To acting superintendent Cari Moye, the best part of the day was getting to talk with their students and families, bringing together staff and students to engage, connect and learn.
“Our students and families had a blast,” Moye said, raising her voice slightly over the buzz of activity. “It was interactive, and students were able to meet others and experience hands-on learning. This fosters such an engaging and positive learning environment. We’re already looking forward to next year.”