UNMC will host the 18th Annual Latina Latino Youth Conference Friday, Oct. 17. The event, co-sponsored with the Latino Center of the Midlands, brings more than 250 area high school students from Nebraska and Iowa, along with 30 counselors, teachers and volunteers, to the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education to educate students about resources available for higher education.
“Our focus is on career preparation,” said Dani Eveloff, recruitment coordinator for UNMC’s College of Nursing. “This conference gives high school students information on various careers, financial aid and admission requirements.”
“We believe it is important for students to be exposed to a variety of career choices,” said Shannan L. Garcia, education director at the Latino Center of the Midlands. “This conference will assist students in making critical connections with business leaders as well as introduce them to a professional school environment.”
Students can meet with 20 exhibitors from various professional fields. They will participate in career assessment and meet with community and business leaders to discuss their results.
Interactive demonstrations from UNMC college units will give students hands-on experience with each health discipline. In addition, representatives from The Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs will provide financial aid and application information.
Ten students will receive college scholarships totaling $4,750.
“We want to encourage Latino youths to look beyond high school toward college and professional school,” Garcia said. “This event is one way we demonstrate our commitment to help students reach their goals.
The event will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Events Center of the Sorrell Center. Entertainment will be provided by a UNO Latino sorority and fraternity.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.