CALEXICO — While talking about her mother, tears formed in the corners of Daisy Galeana's eyes.

After bringing her family to Chula Vista in the mid-1980s, Galeana's mother cleaned homes for a living while juggling the responsibilities of her own home.

Just getting to the United States was a struggle, Galeana said before pausing.

A woman in the Rodney Auditorium audience walked to the podium and offered Galeana a tissue, which she took, then dabbed her eyes and nose.

Galeana continued her keynote address, speaking in Spanish to a group of local parents who gathered Saturday morning for the third annual "Excellence in Education" parent conference at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus.

By her story, it was clear Galeana's mother impressed on a young girl the importance of hard work.

That young girl made her way through grade school and Chula Vista High School, taking English as a second language classes.

After she was turned down twice by San Diego State University, Galeana kept working toward a college education and she was finally accepted. At SDSU she studied mechanical engineering. After graduation and a short stint with the San Diego company for which she had interned, she moved to Miami for a new opportunity and continued her education, juggling school and a demanding career.

Galeana's mother provided an example of hard work and sacrifice for a greater good that pushed her daughter to do more.

The message of Galeana's speech was appropriate for Saturday's event, which was sponsored by Imperial County Partnerships for Higher Education and the University of California's Office of the President.

The theme of the event was "the role of parents in the education of their children."

Galeana urged the hundreds of parents who listened to her address to follow the example of her mother and support their children as they strive to get ahead in the world.

She warned the parents it won't be easy to help their children get into college because of increasingly stringent grade requirements and piles of paperwork to fill out.

There are opportunities though, she stressed. Certain companies help students with financial aid and are flexible with work schedules.

She told the parents to never accept the tired excuses of "I can't do it. I don't have the money."

"We need more Latinos in leadership positions at universities and corporations," she said. "Your children are the future of this country."

After Galeana's speech, the parents went to classrooms at SDSU-IV for workshops led by Valley educators.

The primary goal of the conference was providing parents information that will assist them in navigating the educational system, according to Blas Guerrero, director of the University of California's regional outreach initiative and partnership, and Rosa Moreno, assistant dean for student affairs at SDSU-IV.

The classes help parents keep up with the latest immigration laws, learn how to save for college expenses, use Internet resources and take advantage of programs offered in the county.

Biography of a role model

Daisy Galeana, keynote speaker at Saturday's Excellence in Education event at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus

>> Born in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.

>> Raised by her mother, who cleaned houses in the United States after

immigrating in 1986.

>> Attended Chula Vista Middle School and Chula Vista High School. Took English as a second language classes until 11th grade.

>> Applied three times to San Diego State University before she officially was admitted.

>> Interned for Solar Turbines Inc. of San Diego while attending SDSU.

>> Graduated from SDSU in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

>> Worked for Solar Turbines until 2000, when she took a job with B/E Aerospace of Miami; attended the University of Miami.

>> Graduated from University of Miami with a master's degree in

mechanical engineering.

>> Moved back to San Diego in 2003 to work for L'Garde as a staff engineer.

>> Competitive salsa dancer.

>> Plans to pursue a doctorate in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in nanotechnology, marry and have two children, open a foundation for poor children in Acapulco and pay her mother's salary so her mother won't have to work anymore.