The University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Chicano Awareness Center are co-hosting the 16th Annual Latina/Latino Youth Conference today at the UNMC College of Nursing Cooper Auditorium.
More than 200 students from 12 high schools and one middle school in the Omaha metropolitan area will learn about college and career opportunities. Students will learn about admission requirements, financial aid and other resources for higher education, as well as participate in workshops on financial planning and essay writing. Students also will visit companies and organizations related to their career choices.
Scholarships totaling $5,500 will be presented to 10 high school students during the conference. Scholarships will be presented by First National Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Omar Carpet Cleaning, Two Men and A Truck and Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado.
Though U.S. Census Bureau statistics show Latinos made up 8 percent of Nebraska’s college age population in 2000, only 2.4 percent of students enrolled in higher education were Hispanic. Low family income and an inability to qualify for federal financial aid are just a few of the reasons many talented Latino students are unable to pursue or continue higher education.
“The conference goals include opportunities for students to strengthen their academic, social and cultural development; be introduced to a college environment; and to educate students about resources available for higher education,” said Donna Wagner, assistant executive director of the Chicano Awareness Center.
“A lot of kids in the Latino culture don’t think about higher education opportunities after high school. We want to get them to look beyond the high school years,” Wagner said.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about different careers and meet with representatives from UNMC, OPPD, Cox Communications, Omaha World-Herald and Azteca Television, among others.
Twenty-five exhibitors will staff the conference, including college recruiters. The scheduled luncheon keynote speaker is Fred Licon, Jr., assistant to Mayor Mike Fahey and former college admissions recruiter. A mariachi band will entertain participants during lunch.
This is the first time UNMC has hosted the event, said Dani Eveloff, nurse recruiter at the UNMC College of Nursing. She said participating along with the College of Nursing will be the School of Allied Health Professions, the College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry and the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs.
Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, and Jose Romero, M.D., UNMC pediatric infectious diseases and past president of the Chicano Awareness Center, will welcome the group to campus. UNMC researcher Jorge RodrÃguez-Sierra, Ph.D., will give a presentation on the importance of higher education, working hard and staying in school.
John McClain, associate vice chancellor for student equity and multicultural affairs, said the conference also will expose Latino youth to health care career options. “UNMC will share with students the variety of health careers available, academic expectations, and how to prepare to pursue health careers.”
Agenda for the day
- 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. — Registration and breakfast
- 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. — Welcome, acknowledgement of sponsors, program explanation, Mistress of Ceremony: Maria Chavez, UNMC Student, Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean, UNMC College of Nursing and Jose Romero, M.D., UNMC Pediatrics, past president of the Chicano Awareness Center
- 8:50 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. — Workshop 1: Financial Management, College Education, Joey Davis, Wells Fargo Bank
- 9:25 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. — Workshop 2: Writing Scholarship Essays, Maria I. Garza, UNO Multicultural Affairs
- 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Jorge RodrÃguez-Sierra, Ph.D., UNMC researcher, will give an inspirational presentation on importance of higher education, working hard, and staying in school
- 10:20 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. — Students visit with exhibitors
- 10:55 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. — Lunch and student entertainment (Mariachi band)
- 11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. — Speaker: Frederick M. Licon Jr. of the Mayor’s office
- 11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — Presentation of Scholarships
- 12:20 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. — Board buses to visit companies