One thousand potential freshmen flooded UNM for Hispano Student Day on Thursday.
The event was organized to make the transition easier for students from 45 local and state schools.
It is designed to encourage Hispanic high school juniors and seniors to finish school and continue their education afterward, said Rosa Cervantes, co-chair of the event.
The students participated in seminars and counseling sessions and received guided campus tours. Lunch was provided by Garcia's Kitchen while Mariachi Lobo entertained students.
Desirey Trujillo, a senior from Grants High School, said she has already applied to UNM, but came to the event to help figure out a major.
"Now I know what I want to be once I graduate from college," she said.
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The program's keynote speaker, Consuelo Castillo Kickbush, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., stressed the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to get an education.
Monica Monta§o, a Roswell High senior, said the speech inspired her to continue her education after high school.
"Her story was very touching," she said. "It made me change my mind completely. I wasn't going to go to college. I had changed my mind about it. But then I thought about it and decided I better go."
The event was a collaborative effort of El Centro de la Raza and the Office of Recruitment Services. More than 100 students volunteered at department booths and as tour guides.
"If you're struggling, you get to meet the people that can help you out," said Alisha Gurule, a student volunteer. "Seeing how nice these people are, Chicano students and Mexican-American students will feel very welcome, have a great time, and be a little less intimidated."
Junior Joel Salazar said he was one of about 100 students from Los Lunas High School to attend the event. He said he plans to go to UNM when he graduates, but was unsure of what college life is like.
"I came because I wanted to see how much of a difference it is from high school," he said. "It's more free, and it seems that you have more choices. All of it was great."
Cervantes said the event shows Hispanic students a university degree is attainable, and that UNM is here for them.
"It gives students that sense of empowerment to know that there are so many students like them out there, and that there's a place for them," she said. "We want them here at UNM."
