LAYC’s First-Ever College Day Draws Educational Institutions and Enthusiastic Youth

Around 300 youth involved in the DC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and LAYC Upward Bound gathered at George Washington University’s Marvin Center on Friday, July 13, 2007 for Latin American Youth Center’s first College Day. Monica Fernandez, LAYC In-School Program Coordinator, and Stanford University interns Gilbert Dueñas, Andrew Lomeli, Sergio Rosas, and Edgar Chavez organized the event.

With about 25 higher education institutions in attendance, the college fair exposed youth to a variety of community colleges, vocational schools and four-year universities. Representatives for scholarship opportunities, such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute, and other youth programs, such as LAYC Focus on Kids, also hosted booths at the fair. Tonya Asmar, an Admissions Counselor from Southeastern University, DC, acknowledged that there is an awareness gap for some youth – “some kids don’t even know what a Bachelor’s degree is” – but once representatives provide info and initiate conversations, “then the questions come.”

Three ongoing workshops, accommodating up to 50 youth each time, covered key topics: What is College, Paying for College, and Surviving College. One youth workshop facilitator from Stanford University shared his view that a key questions about college was what “being educated” meant. He said it meant “being able to change your surroundings.”

Leaving the “What is College” seminar, Carolina Ramos of Bell Multicultural Senior HS and Madeleine Ramirez of High Point HS in Maryland were confident. Their high schools had prepared them well to go to college, they said. They understood that college would help with careers and quality of life - “[with college], you get a better everything,” they laughed.

Amid the energetic noise of the college fair, LAYC Chief Operating Officer Anita Friedman reflected on the opportunities being provided by the event. “I think it’s fantastic! Some of the young people have not even considered college before, let alone talked to admissions officials.” Organizers were extremely satisfied with the day and hope that it will set a precedent for similar LAYC-sponsored events in the future.