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Symposium born of results-driven national program offering college preparation skills, leadership development, and support throughout year
WASHINGTON, DC - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop and grow the next generation of Hispanic professionals will guide 200 promising high school students in Washington, DC, in July on a path to achieving college degrees and careers.
The District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be held at Trinity Washington University on July 23-26, 2008, by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional careers. The symposium will serve promising students from Washington, DC, encouraging them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.
Boasting an impressive track record in several major U.S. cities, the Hispanic Youth Symposium has grown into a four-day event and one-year follow-up program designed to increase Latino knowledge of the milestones and prerequisites needed to prepare for and attend college. Its goal is to inspire students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is sponsoring the District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium this year as part of its goal to improve the quality of life in Washington, DC.
“Part of building healthy, strong communities is creating an environment in which youth can learn and chart a path to success,” said Chet Burrell, CareFirst President and Chief Executive Officer. “CareFirst supports a wide variety of programs and organizations that make the District a better place to live. We’re proud to join the Hispanic College Fund, City and Federal governments for this worthwhile program.”
About 8 percent of the population in the District of Columbia is Hispanic, and it is growing at a rapid pace. This week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the population and the largest minority group in the United States. Yet their rate of completing higher education is relatively low.
“As recently as 2006, only 12.5% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree, the lowest rate of any group in the United States,” said Hispanic College Fund President Idalia Fernandez. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium is working to effectively boost this statistic.”
Research has shown that one of the most significant barriers to Latinos attending college is a lack of knowledge about the college preparation process. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium provides Latino students information, mentors and, best of all, the knowledge that yes, college is possible,” Fernandez said.
The District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium was born of last year’s Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium; thanks to its four years of considerable growth and success, it was split into three symposia in 2008, including one in DC and two in Virginia.
Trinity Washington University will host the symposium in the District of Columbia as part of its extensive focus to help meet the educational needs of families in the community. The university is supporting the symposium by providing facilities and assistance with administration.
“Trinity is delighted and proud to work in partnership with the DC Hispanic Youth Symposium to help youth here achieve their college dreams,” said Trinity President Patricia McGuire. “Trinity today educates more DC residents than any other private university in the nation, and Trinity’s success in meeting the educational needs of D.C. students is well-known. In fact, nearly 20 percent of Trinity students are Hispanic, and almost all students at Trinity face economic challenges.”
McGuire said Trinity’s experience has shown that students who receive the kind of support available through the Hispanic Youth Symposium are more likely to enroll in college and achieve academic success in their early collegiate years. “These years are the most critical moments to ensure lifelong academic and professional success,” she said.
Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund has shown that participants in the symposia significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and their interest in internships and community volunteering, as well as having gained a positive role model/mentor.
Werner Parilla, 20, is a Bucknell University engineering student on a full-tuition scholarship from attending the 2006 Greater Washington Symposium. He said the nomination and scholarship award made it possible for him to fulfill his dream of attending college.
“I had an amazing experience. The Hispanic Youth Symposium taught me networking skills and the fundamentals to college and career success that you just don’t learn in school,” he said. “I think that’s the most important part of symposium - it brings in Hispanic professionals who are really, really successful. They showed us that success is in reach. Every single last one of the students left inspired, thinking they could make it. That’s what has driven a lot of us to succeed.”
Because of the symposium’s positive impact on communities, Telemundo in Washington, DC, has been supporting the Hispanic Youth Symposium since its inception.
“We strongly support the mission of the Hispanic College Fund and believe in the importance of education,” said Telemundo Washington General Manager Wendy Thompson. “It is gratifying to see that we are able to make a difference.”
Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund, said the Hispanic College Fund depends on its community partners to help reach students and mobilize support from local donations to volunteers.
“We bring national sponsorships and visibility to the communities that we serve - and national opportunities for students - but we rely on the local support to make the program as successful and personal as it is. It truly will help shape the next workforce of scientific and technical graduates in these communities,” Barrueta said.
District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium sponsors include CareFirst, the Office on Latino Affairs (OLA), Children’s National Medical Center, and MasterCard. The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:
In addition, at least 150 community volunteers will be engaged to assist with everything from logistics coordination to talent show judging. Approximately 20 college student resident advisors also are being recruited to help with the symposium management.
In order to track the results of each symposium, the Hispanic College Fund will conduct pre- and post-event surveys to determine whether students show a marked improvement in their understanding of the college application process, the financial aid process, and the role that community involvement and high school academic achievement play in the college preparation process. Also, the Hispanic College Fund will conduct a longitudinal study of its student participants to track how their college preparation improves, whether they go to college, the caliber of the college they attend, and the kind of career they pursue upon graduation.
In May, the website of the District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.
About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years, the Hispanic College Fund has provided educational, scholarship, and mentoring programs to students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, establishing a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.
The Hispanic College Fund has an annual budget of $6 million with 20 full-time employees. In 2006, the Hispanic College Fund received the Brillante award for “Nonprofit of the Year” from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and in 2007 was recognized by USA Today as one of the nation’s top 25 charities.
Website: www.hispanicfund.org
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Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400
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