Issue #20
November 2011

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Univision National Anchors Welcome 50,000 Participants to Latino Education Fair

The Es El Momento Edúcalos college fair, held Oct. 22 at CSU Dominguez Hills, attracted an estimated 50,000 parents, students and children, who, eager to learn about education, began arriving to campus three hours before the event's opening.

Participants talked to hundreds of representatives from academic institutions, from pre-K to university level, and from educational nonprofit organizations about the many resources available for families to help guide their children to academic success.

Univision anchors Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos welcomed the audience during the opening ceremony and also held a town hall meeting where participants were able to ask questions and discuss the importance of achieving a college degree.

Race car driver and naval engineer Milka Duno spoke with children and parents about her journey from her native Venezuela to the Indianapolis 500 and other racing venues where she competes.

Students and parents were able to interact with Latino professionals who explained what they do in their jobs and the rewards of working in the professional field of their choice. CSU attorney Lorena Peñaloza and three other attorneys shared their experiences in the legal profession.

Elected officials and TV personalities delighted children and parents in the reading room, where they read children’s favorite books in both English and Spanish.

The Es el Momento education fair provides the venue for one of the largest one-day book giveaways in Los Angeles. More than 35,000 books were distributed to participating children, donated by Molina Health Care, Mexican Consulate, First 5 LA, Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas (COFEM), Jumpstart and the Boy Scouts of America.

The fair also offered stage entertainment, led by TV and radio personalities such as KMEX anchor Gabriela Teissier and radio celebrities Andres Maldonado and Stephanie Himonidis.

The Es el Momento fair informs and empowers parents through workshops, motivational presentations and one-on-one conversations that help parents to guide their children through the California education system.

View Event Photo Gallery

Milka Duno with college fair exhibitors
Milka Duno (center) poses with college fair volunteers holding signs written in Spanish that say: "If I did it, you can too. This is the first step. Ask me how." (Photo by Roxanne Haynes)

EEM 2011 participants
Pre-school children work at a computer station while their parents get information about resources available to help students succeed academically.

EEM Book delivery
Parents receive books donated to promote the concept of having a home library and the value of reading to children at a very early age.

Journey to Success College Fair for Vietnamese Families Held at Fullerton

Trina Tan, Chief Communications Officer Associated Students Inc, CSU Fullerton

CSU Fullerton student Trina Tan, chief communication officer of the Associated Students, Inc, encouraged college fair participants to get involved in extracurricular activities when they get to college. "Students involved in campus activities graduate faster than others," she said.

The CSU Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative held a college fair at CSU Fullerton to educate Vietnamese and other Asian families about college careers and steps that students need to complete while in middle school and high school to qualify for college.

The Nov. 5 event at CSU Fullerton featured professionals from the Vietnamese community sharing their personal journeys to college and professional careers. Workshops provided information on how to apply to CSU campuses using the CSUMentor site, how to prepare to transfer from community college to a CSU campus and how to pay for college.

Milton Gordon, president of CSU Fullerton, said that it was very fitting to hold the Journey to Success fair on his campus because it has been designated by the federal government as an Asian American and Pacific Islander Institution. The designation distinguishes campuses whose AAPI enrollments exceed at least 10 percent. At CSU Fullerton 22 percent (8,000) enrolled students are Asian American / Pacific Islander. The majority of the AAPI students at Fullerton are Vietnamese and Filipino.

Volunteers at Journey to Success college fair at CSUF

View Event Photo Gallery

Visit the CSU AAPI Initiative website.

Summit Nov. 12 To Help AB540 students, Parents at Fresno State

A conference addressing issues facing undocumented resident students and their parents will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Fresno State.

The AB540 Summit is open to the public but is primarily intended for high school and community college students. More than 250 participants are already registered.

The keynote speaker will be Raul Z. Moreno, coordinator of University Migrant Services at Fresno State, who will discuss "Opening Doors to Higher Education for Undocumented Youth."

Assembly Bill 540 is the state law allowing undocumented immigrants to attend public colleges and universities and to pay in-state fees if they have attended a California high school for three years, graduated and meet college entrance requirements.

For more information, contact Adriana Sánchez at 559.291.5428 or asanchez@education-leadership.org or facebook.com/ELFoundation.

HACU Conference Prepares Educators to facilitate Hispanic Student Success

Antonio Flores opens HACU Conference, Oct. 2011

Several CSU campuses and the Office of the Chancellor participated in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)'s Annual Conference, held Oct. 28-31 in San Antonio.

The event marked HACU's celebration of 25 years of existence and support for Hispanics in higher education.

During these years, HACU has obtained $1.7 billion in federal appropriations for colleges and universities that have the Hispanic Serving Institution designation, which means that at least 25 percent of total enrollment is made up of Hispanic students.

As a result of these appropriations, most recently, the CSU received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund 50 internships a year for the next four years at the CSU’s 14 Hispanic Serving Institutions The internships will begin in January 2012 and will provide CSU students with hands-on experience in water management.

Native American Professional Development Conference To Be Held Nov. 17-18

Native American Conference flier image

The Native American Professional Development Conference is directed at individuals who work with Native American populations and seeks to increase the number of CSU and UC Native American staff who have the ability to impact student life.

The event is co-sponsored by the California Indian Culture & Sovereignty Center at CSU San Marcos, the University of California’s Office of the President and the UC American Indian Counselors & Recruiters Association.

The Nov. 17-18 conference will be held in San Marcos at the Residence Inn San Diego North. Conference flier

Upcoming College Events and Fairs

February 4
AAPI Journey to Success
Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese Filipino
Cal State Los Angeles
February 12
Chancellor Reed launches CSU Super Sunday (Location TBA)
February 19
Super Sunday, Partner Churches in Northern California
February 26
Super Sunday, Partner Churches in Southern California

April 25
AAPI Summit -- Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles. (Event produced and sponsored by the College Board)
April 26-27
A Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education. Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles (Event produced and sponsored by the College Board)

CSU Priority Application Period Closes on Nov. 30

How to get to college Image

Students intending to apply for fall 2012 should visit the website www.csumentor.edu to complete the online application now.

The priority application period will end at midnight on Nov. 30.

Questions, ideas or comments about editorial content, e-mail Clara Potes-Fellow
cpotes-fellow@calstate.edu
Visit the External Relations website for more information on programs that serve diverse communities across the state.

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