Over 100 Hispanic high school students spent a four-day, three-night experience at the Arizona State University Tempe campus last week learning important leadership skills and college entrance information.
The conference was hosted by the Hispanic College Fund, a group based out of Washington, D.C., that looks to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. It gave the students access to mentorship, scholarship and other resources to be successful in college.
The majority of the students who attended the conference come from lower-income families, and most would be the first in their families to go to college, said Monica Raugitinane, a spokeswoman for the Hispanic College Fund. Most of the students will be starting their freshman or sophomore year of high school in the fall.
The conference included many sessions, including one that gave students the chance to meet with successful Hispanic professionals. Students were able to meet in small groups with seven to 10 professionals to ask questions, hear advice and listen to personal success stories.
"I challenge you, instead of being the assistant, to be the professional," Edgar Acosta, a Nationwide Insurance agent in Phoenix, said to the four girls seated around him. "Don't just be the medical assistant; be the doctor."
This is an important step in introducing Hispanic teenagers to different types of mentors.
"Many Hispanic families don't value education and I want to open their minds and open their horizons," said Marco Hidalgo, the director of the Hispanic Youth Fund in Arizona and New Mexico.
Many Hispanic families value the safe route over the harder one, said Elida Sarmiento, one of the "Hispanic Heroes," who works for the Social Security Administration. Many families have a survival mentality and they value family over professional success, something Sarmiento said she has personally dealt with in her own family.
Students had to complete a competitive application process that included writing short essay answers, and had to show a minimum grade point average of 2.5.
The Hispanic College Fund seeks to help Hispanic students be prepared for college, improve retention rates and to increase the number of graduates.
So far, the programs seem to be successful. Ninety-six percent of students involved in the first program in 2004 have either graduated or are still currently enrolled in college, said Stina Augustsson, the national director of the Hispanic College Fund.
One session asked small groups of students to identify key issues that negatively impact the Hispanic community. Groups chose issues like teenage pregnancy, drug addiction and illegal immigrants' lack of available health care.
"Teenage pregnancy is a major Latino problem," said Anahi Ruiz, a sophomore at Franklin High School in Phoenix. She said that there are many girls at her school who are pregnant, including a friend.
Ruiz, who would be the first in her family to attend college, said she hopes to study psychiatry or crime scene investigation in college.
Ruiz and her group worked to find a solution to teenage pregnancy that they could implement in their community.
If her team is picked, they could be eligible for a $1,000 grant from the fund to set the solution into motion.
Besides learning important leadership skills, student learned about the college experience.
Throughout the program, they were able to learn important admission information. They also learned how to write entrance essays, pay tuition, and understand the SAT, ACT and ever-confusing application process. There were also scholarship opportunities available throughout the conference.
The Hispanic College Fund relies heavily on corporate donations for funding. All of the donations made in Arizona stay in Arizona programs.
RationalHuman posted at 10:21 am on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
Replace every mention of the words "Hispanic" and "Latino" in this article with any other ethnicity, and read it again.
Now tell me (with a straight face) that this doesn't sound sectarian and racist.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:01 am on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
This is demeaning to these "American" students. Why are "HISPANICS" singled out for "additional attention and needed assistance".
You never saw any of this in the 1950's and early 1960's. There was no racial or ethnic divide. Each "INDIVIDUAL" student was assessed by his or her abilities....NOT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
DO YOU SEE THESE "ETHNIC GROUP" HELP CONFERENCES FOR ....AMERICAN STUDENTS OF ...PAKISTANI DESCENT...INDIAN (INDIA) DESCENT...VIETNAMESE DESCENT...CHINESE DESCENT...JAPANESE DESCENT...........HECK NO YOU DON'T...WHY BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ..."MAKE" ...THEM DO HOMEWORK....MAKE THEM STUDY...GO OVER THEIR CLASS PROGRESS REPORTS.
THEIR PARENTS ARE...."WANT"...THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AMERICANS....NOT GANG MEMBERS, DRUG DEALERS OR 16 AND PREGNANT.
Richka posted at 11:31 am on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
It doesn't say anywhere if these "hispanic" students are american citizens. If they actually are, then any ethnic description wouldn't be nesssecary.
I'm still looking for a "caucasan" college fund for my son. I am now in the minority surrounded by surnames I can't even pronounce.
What a crazy world we live in. We allow the infestation from millions of illegal aliens and do nothing to stop their agenda. We are being fed lies about 11 million illegals in the U.S., when California alone has that many. All we are is sheep led to the slaughter house. When will America wake up and smell the stench?
Juggernaut6000 posted at 2:42 pm on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
Rich,
You are absolutly correct. This country rewards these illegals and punishes American citizens by making us pay for the public services they absorb.
I was at FIesta mall yesterday and I was the minority. Every female there was pregnant and already had a couple children with her. Isn't two, or even three enough? The US will be a third world country in 10 years because of all the illegals.
samkat posted at 4:51 pm on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
Attempt to start an Anglo College Fund and you would be called racist. By the way Rich, I just saw a blip on I believe CNN the other day about a Black man who started a White College Fund. They showed the first recipient. Guess who was raising the most fuss? It was the Black community. I guess that we will have to buck the trend and start our own regardless of the racial comments. After all, we are soon to be the minority group.
shrinkingviolet posted at 10:44 pm on Mon, Jul 18, 2011.
Wow, Leon.... you heard it here first, folks: "There was no racial or ethnic divide" in the 1950s and '60s. Wow.
Daydreamwriter posted at 8:47 am on Wed, Jul 20, 2011.
You people should be ashamed. You're fear and hate is overwhelming. God forbid STUDENTS who aren't Caucasian be given information on getting a college education. You think only Caucasian students should get the help? Why? And recent statics note that the majority of Hispanics in this country are AMERICANS not immigrants.
Karma and the Golden Rule are going to bite you people later.
And I'm HALF Caucasian and HALF Latina. My college applications, FASFA, etc., have BOTH checked. I didn't get any special treatment because I was one or the other or both.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 11:36 am on Wed, Jul 27, 2011.
Daydreamwriter, why aren't they including all races of Americans? Do Hispanics need special attention? Are they even American citizens who speak English? God should be giving children of all races information on getting a college education. Right RationalHuman?