Latino students urged to aim higher
- January 20, 2009
HAYWARD - Education officials will try to attract more Latino students to higher education this weekend by providing information on what is needed to attend college.
The ninth annual Latino Education Summit - an event founded to address low levels of Latino students enrolled in college - will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., in Hayward.
"We really want to connect the Latino community to multiple resources for higher education," said Claudia Quezada, program chairwoman.
Quezada, who also serves as an early assessment program coordinator at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, said the summit will feature workshops that will help prepare prospective students for financing education after high school. Other seminars will provide tips and cover topics such as college readiness and access.
"One great thing about this program is that students come with their families," she said. "Really, we are just here to support them in this effort and get them into college."
Returning to this year's summit is on-the-spot admission for students, which was introduced for the first time last year. Campus officials from ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ and Chabot and Ohlone colleges will be on hand to grant admission to qualified students.
"Whether it is for retraining or to get the right training, it is time to go back to education," Quezada said. "Education is not an option anymore. It is a necessity to be able to survive in these economic times."
In addition to the university, Saturday's program is co-sponsored by the Alameda County Office of Education and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County.
Many workshops will be conducted in both Spanish and English.
Topics for the seminars will include college information resources, student-life experiences on campus, college admissions, and financing a college education through grants, scholarships, and financial aid.
Admission will be free and the summit is open to the public. A free lunch and continental breakfast will be provided, and a drawing for a computer also will be held. Registration can be completed online at .
For more information, call 510-885-3516.
ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ will also hold a similar program next month. The African-American Education Summit is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21.
If you go
What: Ninth annual Latino Education Summit
Where: ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
More info: Call 510-885-3516 or visit