by Kayla Anderson
Daily Lobo
About 800 Hispanic high school juniors and seniors will meet today in Johnson Center's main gym to learn about UNM's application process and college life in the University's annual Hispanic recruitment event, Hispano Student Day.
The event, sponsored by El Centro de la Raza and UNM Recruitment Services, will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The theme for today's event is "UNM-Hazlo - UNM-Do it!" Activities will include hands-on workshops for both students and counselors. The high school students will learn about the college process and will have their application fee waived if they apply during the event.
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"Counselors will have a session to educate them about the process at UNM and to allow them to voice their concerns," said Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, the program director of UNM's College Enrichment Program.
The goal of the event is to "educate and welcome these students and counselors," Gomez-Chavez said. "I think why they want to attend is because we offer an interactive program. Hispanic students draw to this event because it is more interactive and hands-on. The connection is the key."
Hispanic enrollment rates at UNM rank highly compared to other colleges. UNM rated among the top 100 colleges for Hispanics in the May 6 issue of Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education and 24th in Hispanic's Magazine's top 25 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics in the March 2002 issue.
Rosa Cervantes, a UNM program specialist, said that in comparison to New Mexico's Hispanic population, the corresponding enrollment rate should be greater.
"Ethnic centers, like El Centro de la Raza, are an attraction that they have a place they can call home away from home," Cervantes said. We do a great job outreaching to the community through these visitation days. We need to continue doing a better job."
The efforts of El Centro de la Raza and Recruitment Services combine to make events like todays inviting to Hispanic students statewide.
"I think both programs do a lot of community outreach activities," Cervantes said. "Today's event is a campus effort. We have committee members, students, and staff who are helping us. This day came about because of the support of many people."
