By 2030, “nearly 60 percent of all Texans will have only a high school diploma or less,” a 2005 study from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted.

GenTX is part of a statewide initiative with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to encourage an entire generation of Texans to attend two- or four-year colleges. The movement is financed by a grant from the United States Department of Education.

Generation Texas Day, or GenTX, is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board initiative that aims to encourage Texans to pursue and attend two- or four-year colleges.

It was a tall order, to say the least. According to a recent study from the Houston Endowment, fewer than 22 percent of the state’s eighth graders go on to earn a higher education credential in a decade. The numbers are even lower among the state’s fast-growing minority population. In order for Texas to be economically competitive, that statistic needs to rise significantly — some say up to 60 percent.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Generation TX, featured today in the New York Times’ education column “The Choice,” and H-E-B are pleased to announce that they have joined forces for the second year in a row to promote GenTX Day across the state of Texas on Friday, May 4, 2012. GenTX Day is a day for communities to show their support for Texas students, particularly the graduating class of 2012, by celebrating their accomplishments and encouraging them to pursue higher education as a critical next step for their futures.

In recognition of GenTX Day, H-E-B will encourage over 50,000 of their Partners (employees) in nearly 300 Texas stores to join Texans across the state in showing their support for the students of Generation TX by wearing their favorite college T-shirt. H-E-B Partners will also wear customized “GenTX + H-E-B” buttons for the day to highlight this partnership and to express their continued support for Texas students.

The effort is part of a grass-roots movement called GenTX Day, which promotes college readiness and encourages conversation about higher education.

To celebrate and to emphasize what schools already do, many campuses this week, such as Miller High School in Corpus Christi Independent School District, are welcoming speakers and offering college fairs to learn about the admissions process and financial aid.

“It’s a way for us to show our support for this generation of Texans,” said Miller’s college adviser Sarah Magnelia. “They have the potential to attain their goals.”

GenTX Day, funded through a federal grant by way of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, is part of a three-tier effort to promote college readiness in the state.

Dr. Judy Loredo with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Jacob Pietsch with Advise Texas spoke to KVUE about the efforts of Generation TX.

“We hope everyone will wear their college T-shirts,” said Connie Freeman, GenTX Campaign Director. “It’s an easy way to send a powerful message about the value of higher education, and it will create opportunities for people to share their stories about their college choices and their careers.”