UNM to Host National LULAC Leadership Program

The UNM College Enrichment and Outreach Programs (CEOP), part of the Division of Student Affairs, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Department of Energy (DOE) are proud to team to up once again for the “UNM/LULAC Annual Leadership Program” for incoming junior and senior high school students.

The purpose of the program, which began in 2007, is to create a high school summer leadership camp that focuses on preparing young Latino student leaders for the future. And, with UNM being the only Hispanic Serving Institution classified as a Carnegie Very High Research Institution in the continental United States and 37 percent of its overall student body identifying themselves as Hispanic/Latino/Mexicano on demographic surveys, it’s the ideal place to hold the program.

After the success of the pilot program, which boasted 26 students and lasted for one week, the DOE granted UNM and LULAC $154,833 to continue the program for the next three years. This year’s program will have 50 students and last two weeks.

“We’re building off of what we started last year,” said Dr. Cheo Torres, vice president for Student Affairs. “This is the first National LULAC Educational Leadership Program and the University is honored to be selected as the university to inaugurate this program."

With the expansion of time and the larger number of students, Torres says the program will ensure the continuation of leadership training, tutorials, guidance, counseling, and cultural/social enrichment activities for future leaders from across the country.

The two-week schedule begins on July 20 and includes classes and events scheduled from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting with a morning wake-up call and ending with lights out at 10 p.m. Day’s events include team building and leadership exercises, college readiness training, cultural trips, case study and research and problem solving. At the end of the program participants are treated to a banquet and recognized for their accomplishments.

For more information on the program please call the LULAC National Office at (202) 833-6130 or visit: LULAC.