by Lisa Adams
Daily Lobo
About 800 students from 39 local high schools visited UNM on Thursday to attend Hispano Student Day.
Rosa Cervantes, student program specialist with El Centro de la Raza, said the event originated as a way for high school students to tour the campus and learn more about college life.
This was the sixth year the event has been held, she said.
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Students attended workshops at the SUB meant to explain UNM degree programs.
Jeanette Nunez, a student at Hot Springs High School, said the workshops were informative.
"It was good to think about college," Nunez said. "I really like the speakers who talked about medicine and law."
Although a large number of high school students crowded the SUB, UNM student Nick Goodrich said he did not mind.
"I think it's great - it would have helped me out," said Goodrich.
UNM student James Butts disagreed.
"They're pretty annoying," Butts said.
Raymond Sanchez, a UNM regent and the event's keynote speaker, remembered his days as a student.
"The best years of my life were spent here Wednesday nights dancing," Sanchez said.
UNM is a great school both academically and socially, he said. He encouraged students to try to achieve their dreams by going to UNM.
Luis Garcia, a teacher from Robert F. Kennedy Charter School, said several of his students are planning to attend UNM when they graduate.
"Most of my seniors are going to attend UNM, and they're looking forward to coming here in the fall," he said.
Samantha Stephens, a student at Rio Rancho High School, said she enjoyed touring the University.
"I've never been to UNM before, so it was nice to tour the campus and learn more about college," Stephens said.
Cervantes said the event went as planned.
"I think everything went really well today," she said.
She said letters are sent to the students to thank them for coming to Hispano Student Day and to keep in contact with them.
Cervantes said the organization has not kept registration percentages from those who attended the event. This year, however, they will be able to tell how many of the students who attended the event will be entering as freshman next fall, she said.
