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UNM to Host National LULAC Leadership Program Again

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. 

he 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% 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,” says 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 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. starting with a morning wake-up call and ending with lights out at 10:00 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 their web page at www.lulac.org.

Lt. Governor Denish and Alex O. Romero to Co-Chair First Hispanic Youth Symposium in Albuquerque

One hundred New Mexico students to learn about college and career opportunities 

(Courtesy of the Hispanic College Fund. Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 x117)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce CEO Alex O. Romero will co-chair the upcoming New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium in July. The inaugural symposium will be held at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque July 9-12, 2008.  It is being hosted by the Hispanic College Fund and New Mexico Math Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA).

 "I am pleased to chair this important event," Lt. Governor Denish said. "The Hispanic College Fund gives youths a chance to deepen their knowledge in areas that form the backbone of our current and future economy. These students will take a step toward successful, well-paying careers - and help us attract forward-looking businesses." 

The four-day symposium will provide 100 New Mexico Hispanic and Native American high school students with essential information about college and professional careers through workshops, inspirational mentors, and leadership opportunities. Attendance at the symposium includes a year-round follow-up program to further assist the students with preparing for college. 

"The Hispanic Youth Symposium helps students realize that they can attend and succeed in college and in their chosen career. It's an honor to co-chair this important event. The fields of business, science, technology, engineering and math offer great career opportunities for the future and this symposium helps prepare them for the road to success," said Alex O. Romero, CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

Lt. Governor Denish chairs the Children's Cabinet, which combines the forces of state agencies that touch every aspect of children's lives. The goal is to ensure both a stable society and a stable economy by raising healthy, well-educated children ready to move into the workforce.  She has spoken at NM MESA events throughout her tenure.  

Alex O. Romero is a former banking executive and longtime community leader. He has led the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce since 2004. The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is a promotional partner of the Youth Symposium.

"Our co-chairs this year are both wonderful role models for the youth attending," said Fern Barrueta, Hispanic College Fund CEO. "Lt. Governor Denish, the first woman to serve as New Mexico's Lt. Governor, is a strong advocate for education issues. Alex Romero is a well-respected business leader in the state and we are honored he can support us."

The program enjoys widespread community support. New Mexico Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA) Inc. is partnering with the Hispanic College Fund to help identify and recruit students and to coordinate year-round educational programs.  The University of New Mexico is subsidizing the cost of meeting space and dorm rooms.

Sponsors of the event include the National Nuclear Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, the New Mexico Legistature, Wells Fargo, General Dynamics C4 Systems, the University of New Mexico, the USDA, Applied Research Associates, Sandia National Laboratories, Inquiry Facilitators, the New Mexico State Human Resource Management Council, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the NM Optics Industry Association, and Google.

To participate, students must be residents of New Mexico; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; complete an application and essay; submit $10.00 (waived on request); and be Hispanic or Native American or relate to Hispanic culture.  To learn more about the Hispanic Youth Symposium in New Mexico, visit http://www.hispanicyouth.org/symposium-new-mexico.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund provides Hispanic high school and college students with the vision, resources, and mentorship needed to become community leaders and achieve successful careers in business, science, technology, engineering, and math. For 15 years the Hispanic College Fund has provided scholarships and programs to students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, establishing a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics.

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

About New Mexico Math, Engineering, Science Achievement New Mexico Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement (NM MESA), Inc. is a non-profit organization and part of a national initiative promoting educational enrichment for pre-college students from historically under-represented ethnic groups.  NM MESA prepares these students for college majors and careers in mathematics, engineering, science and related fields.  NM MESA is a statewide program with year-round activities that include tutoring; academic, university, and career counseling; field trips; academic competitions; leadership development, summer programs; teacher professional development; and scholarship incentives.  Website:  www.nmmesa.org

UNM NATIONAL LATINO POLICY SUMMIT A SUCCESS

The University of New Mexico main campus played host to an important policy summit earlier this month.  On June 5, participants came from all over the United States to take part in an historic event aimed at addressing issues facing Latinos with regard to higher education. 

The event officially kicked off with an orientation for participants and a welcome reception hosted by UNM President, David. J. Schmidly, and the next day it was all business. 

There were four separate issues to be discussed—all tied together with a common theme—the rapidly growing Latino population in the U.S. and the need to address the gaps in higher education for this population. 

The first working day began with breakfast and a presentation by William V. Flores, deputy secretary for the NM Higher Education Department.  According to Flores, “Currently, Latinos drop out of high school at higher rates than whites, fewer go on to college, and fewer still earn college degrees.”  

Flores went on further to say that if we reduce the high school dropout rates and steadily increase the number of college-ready Latinos graduating from high school, the number of Latinos earning college degrees could double by 2030. 

Participants were broken into four groups to begin discussing solutions for issues including:  the growing need for Latino leadership and role models in higher education; the concern about the low number of Latinos enrolled in higher education systems; the growing number of Latino immigrants in the U.S. who are facing a number of major obstacles including the ability to enroll in higher education because of their immigration status; and, finally, the issue of Latinos in the U.S. being inadequately prepared to go into areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Group disscusses Crises in Higher Education Leadership with Dr. Monte Perez from Golden West College in California.

The groups held lively discussions and came up with a list of recommendations to share with the entire Summit population.  On the final day, the groups reconvened and each presented a summary of what was discussed.

The larger goal of the entire process was to reach a consensus on recommendations that will be translated into policy statements, distributed and presented to national decision makers for action and implementation—and what better time to do this than now.

Students address larger group on last day of the Summit. 

“We want to get recommendations to the presidential candidates,” says Dr. Cheo Torres, VP for UNM Student Affairs and Co-Coordinator of the Summit.  “Hopefully the candidates will use some of the recommendations that came from the summit as part of their platform.

According to Torres, the Summit was very successful, but only the first step in the beginning of an important process.  

UNM WELCOMES NATIONAL LATINO POLICY SUMMIT TODAY! 

The University of New Mexico Division of Student Affairs will host “Responding to a Call of Urgency, A Policy Summit on Latino Higher Education, Its National Impact,” on the UNM campus today through Saturday.

This national policy summit is designed to bring together Hispanic/Latino leadership, educators, appointed and elected officials, student leadership and numerous other representatives from public and private sectors throughout the country, to begin substantive dialogue on selected critical issues that continue to have a great societal economic impact on Hispanic/Latino communities.

The Summit will focus on four critical issues concerning Hispanic/Latino communities including:

Higher Education Leadership, Faculty and Administration

Crisis in Higher Education Achievement

Immigration Impact

Towards Math and Science Achievement

Institutions and entities organizing and planning the policy summit predict the outcome of this collaboration will be in consensus on recommendations to be translated into strategic policy statements to be disseminated and presented for implementation on a national level.  

 For more detailed information, please see our website at: http://latinosummit.unm.edu/ or call Latino Policy Summit Coordinator at 480.967.5034

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT

Students don’t need insurance to be seen at the SHC, but are encouraged to carry health insurance to help defray the costs of care.The UNM Student Health Insurance policy is designed to meet the needs of UNM students. The deadline for summer 2008 enrollment is June 30. (Note: The policy is effective from June 9 through August 19, 2008.)

 The SHC gears up for fall 2008 enrollment, which is scheduled for August 4 through September 15, 2008. During the enrollment periods, students can come to the SHC Reception Area to sign up or to pick up brochures. Online enrollment is also available at www.macori.com. For info, call the SHC at 277-7943 or e-mail unminsur@unm.edu. Or log on to the SHC web site at http://www.unm.edu/~shc1/shi.html. For more detailed information about the student health insurance plans, be sure to click on “Online Orientation.”

 For information on SHC events or services, call 277-3136. Or visit the SHC web site at http://www.unm.edu/~shc1/.

New Mexico GEAR UP Camp

This six-day residential program gives 600 participants an opportunity to experience college life on a major university campus all while exploring leadership training, college and career exploration, college academies, and academic classes. Participants are current New Mexico 8th grade students already involved with the GEAR UP program.

Summer Law

This program is especially designed for youth interested in exploring the world of law and is made up of 7^th and 8^th grade students.  Youth stay on campus in the residence halls and are engaged in educational sessions, recreation, leadership, team building, and community service activities during this six-day event.

HUB Cities/LA Works

This is a two-week residential program that allows participants to experience college life. During the program, participants live in the UNM residence halls, eat in the campus cafeteria, and receive a UNM Student ID card which grants them access to various facilities on campus.

In addition to the general college living experience, the UNM College Prep Program consists of five major components including academic courses, career experience, leadership training, college life workshop series, and cultural excursions. Participants are students involved in the LA Works and HUB Cities programs in the East San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles, CA.

Air Force Junior ROTC Aerospace & Technology Honors Camps

This event is hosted by AFOATS Commander, General Alfred K. Flowers and the objective of the camp is to introduce high-achieving high school cadets to scientific, technical, and rated career opportunities in the Air Force.  The initiative orients selected AFJROTC cadets to aerospace technology educational opportunities and aerospace related careers through a “hands-on” curriculum including visits to college campuses, air and space operational units, research labs, historical sites, aerospace industries, research and technology centers, museums, and provides each cadet with an incentive flight.  Each camp is hosted on a college campus with an Air Force ROTC detachment. 

Daniels Fund

The Daniels College Readiness Program is piloted toward high school students in their junior year needing information regarding specific processes involved with earning a college degree.  Beginning with a parent/student orientation during the 2008 spring semester of a student’s junior year in high school, extending into the summer for a five-day residential program from June 16-21, and concluding with a series of senior seminars during the student’s senior year of high school, the program is designed to help promising young adults with demonstrated financial need to prepare for college, explore college possibilities, and understand the college application process.

Pathways/Hispanic Youth Symposium

The Pathways/Hispanic Youth Symposium (HYS) immerses HYS students (high school sophomores and juniors) in a four-day/three-night stay on a college campus to participate in workshops stressing academic achievement, career choices, community service, and personal responsibility. As part of the symposium, students are given the opportunity to culturally express themselves through participation in essay, speech, art, and talent competitions to earn college scholarships awarded by HCF.

 

Locating each symposium in a university setting in areas with large Hispanic populations, HYS reinforces a college-going culture in each particular neighborhood where it is housed. Knowing the value of continued support, especially for first or second generation Hispanics who are often the first in their families to attend college, HYS not only imparts this college focus on its 100 student participation, but also to the additional 100 volunteers participate in each symposium.

 

LULAC

In 2007, The University of New Mexico teamed up with the National League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Department of Energy to host the pilot “National LULAC Leadership Program.” The result of the pilot program is a two-week residential program that allows participants to experience college life and prepare for the future.  The LULAC Program is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to become immersed in college life while actively engaging in the college application process. In addition, these high school students are learning research skills that most students learn in their sophomore year in college.

 

Upward Bound

The Upward Bound Program is a college-prep program for low-income and/or first generation high school students with the mission of supporting high school students academically, socially, and emotionally in preparation for success in higher education. The program has three components: an instructional component, guidance and counseling component, and a cultural enrichment component

 

High School Equivalency Program

The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) is an eight-week intensive summer residential program that provides GED instruction and testing for its participants. The summer program also includes financial aid workshops, career exploration, leadership training, time management workshops, high ropes course, cultural events, community service projects, a UNM admissions process workshop, and other UNM program information sessions. Once UNM HEP participants graduate with their GED, the program helps place the students into post-secondary institutions, jobs, or the military.

College Enrichment Program Orientation

Our goal is to prepare incoming students for a successful university experience. Orientation participants spend three days and two nights on campus to experience what life is like at UNM. During their stay, participants learn about resources available to students and also learn about various student programs throughout the campus as they tour libraries, athletic facilities, and fine arts venues. Students also participate in valuable life skills workshops to help prepare them for life on their own.

 Finally, students receive individualized and professional academic advising so they can register for classes that best suit their needs and goals. Students receive individualized attention because orientations are limited to 60 students per session. The students who complete the CEP Summer Orientation are fully equipped and prepared for fall semester.

 Through the diverse summer programming provided by CEOP, the students involved usually leave their respective camps feeling empowered and informed. The goal of CEOP is increased post-secondary matriculation is our goal, and the students involved in these programs prove their success

LOBOS FINISH SECOND IN NATIONAL COLLEGE BOWL TOURNAMENT

The University of New Mexico finished second in the College Bowl National Championship in St. Paul, MN on April 28, losing to the University of Rochester Yellowjackets in the final playoff match.

 College Bowl is a question and answer game of general knowledge and quick recall spotlighting the fastest minds on campus as they excel on the playing field of knowledge. Game questions cover every conceivable topic, from history, literature, science, multiculturalism, religion and geography to current events, the arts, social sciences, sports and popular culture.

With the help of Jason Zuffranieri, team captain and graduate student in Statistics from Phoenix, who tied for tournament high scorer and averaged almost 78 points per game, NM compiled a 12-3 record in the preliminary round-robin to advance to the playoffs as the fourth and final seed, losing only to the University of Minnesota, Washington University-St. Louis, and Ohio State University.  Minnesota and Ohio joined the Lobos and Yellowjackets as the other playoff teams.

NM, which had provided No. 1 seed Rochester their only loss in the preliminary round-robin, entered the playoffs seeded No. 4. In the first rounds of the double-elimination playoffs, NM again defeated Rochester. 

 Next facing the defending national champion, Minnesota, the Lobos started strong, and were leading at the half.   Minnesota took a second half lead, but Vanessa Gatsch, a senior Anthropology major from Albuquerque, and Zuffranieri helped NM regain the lead. After a tie and two more lead changes, NM claimed the victory.   Rochester defeated Ohio State and Minnesota to set up the rematch in the finals.

In order to become national champs, Rochester needed to defeat NM twice, and the team had lost to NM in both previous encounters. However, the Yellowjackets jumped to an early lead and wend on to win the first match between the two forcing NM to face them yet again.

The second match started much the same with Rochester taking the early lead and NM was never able to pull within 100 points of the Yellowjackets, and balanced scoring of the two matches gave Rochester the national crown.

This is the highest New Mexico has finished in four tournament appearances, and the first time they have made the playoffs.   The team consisted of
team captain Zuffranieri, Gatsch, Chad McCoy, a Freshman from Vista, CA, John McCulloch, a sophomore majoring in Nuclear Engineering from Farmington, and John Ogren, a senior physics major from Marion, MA.

New Mexico qualified for the College Bowl National Championship after finishing second to Arizona State at a Regional qualifying tournament held at University of Colorado held in Colorado Springs February 22-24 and being randomly selected as the national wild card team. Fifteen Regional winners and a wild card team were invited to the National Championship Tournament.

The College Bowl National Championship is produced by the College Bowl Company in cooperation with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) and was hosted in 2008 by Macalester College.

UNM Signs MOU with the Albuquerque Council for International Visitors 

The University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Council for International Visitors (ACIV) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 20 signifying an important agreement to help bring more international students to the University.   

The MOU was signed by Dr. Eliseo Torres, Vice President for Student Affairs, on behalf of UNM President David J. Schmidly, and Stephan J. Helgesen, President of ACIV.      

Helgesen, who also serves as the Senior Science and Technology Officer in the NM Department of Economic Development, is passionate about what New Mexico has to offer international students. 

“There is no better place than New Mexico,” Helgesen says.  “And the MOU between UNM and ACIV will enhance what we’re doing already.”

 And what they’re already doing is promoting the benefits of international involvement to the people of the State of New Mexico.  Thus, the MOU will focus on promoting these benefits specifically to the academic community, volunteer and non-profit organizations, State and city governments and the cultural and business communities. 

 “The University and the Division of Student Affairs are always looking for ways to increase the enrollment of international students,” Torres says.   “This new relationship will enhance what we already have in place and will be good not only for the University, but also for the State of New Mexico.”   

Kay Carrico, ACIV Second Vice President, says the MOU is a great first step to pooling resources, bringing more international students to NM and educating them with marketable technology that can be used both in our state and country.   

Among other events, UNM and ACIV will be collaborating on the promotion of ACIV’s “Citizen Diplomacy” program which will be sponsored by the University and held on its main campus during 2009.

Part of the ACIV credo is the belief that diversity continues to make Albuquerque an attractive destination for programs from all over the world, which aligns with the University’s special international initiatives linking the international population with the campus and Albuquerque community.

“Part of our mission is to bring more international visitors to Albuquerque and create bonds of friendship with them,” Helgesen says.

 “People who come to New Mexico remember the people and traditions, but especially remember the state as a warm, hospitable, and multi-ethnic place.” 

The ACIV is an all-volunteer office that has been serving the needs of International Visitors Program for over two decades.