Learning from successful Latino students!!

The Hispanic/Latino population in the United States has experienced a significant and consistent growth, particularly among children and youth.  In fact, Hispanics/Latinos are now the largest minority group in the country and the largest amongst individuals under 18. Furthermore, our population is expected to double its number by the year 2025.

Unfortunately, participation of Hispanics in all levels of education continues to be low, while dropout and retention rates are still high.  Latinos hold the highest high school dropout rate in the nation. Similarly, Latinos are less likely than non-Hispanics to be enrolled in or graduate from college and receive less financial aid than non-Hispanic undergraduates.

There is a shortage of models of successful Latino students available to our students. We need models that can convey the message "Si podemos educarnos y triunfar." - "Yes, we can achieve an education and succeed." For this reason, we started a research entitled Latino Students Success Stories.

There is a need to increase the number of Latino students completing a college education. Providing them with models that speak to the value of completing a college degree would help them realize that this is an achievable goal and increase their motivation to pursue such degrees. Individuals, organizations and businesses who sponsor and promote the education of Latino youth in our communities recognize education is everyone's business.  They understand the importance of role models and the need to help make these models of successful Latinos in education widely available to the Latino students in the high school throughout the State of Florida. They also realize that helping Latino students attain a college education serves to uplift the entire family through education. It's helping make dreams come true-the American dream.  Their investments will help us increase the number of college educated Latino students who will then contribute to the growing workforce need for bilingual professionals and societal need for informed consumers and citizens.

The purpose of the Latino Students Success Stories research is to study and document the life story of Latino students that have been able to access a college academic program in spite of great challenges. These success stories would be made available to other Latino students to increase their awareness and knowledge of educational possibilities; and help them make positive decisions about attending higher education programs. Please click on the following title to read the stories of successful students Successful Students.

We are also conducting the Successful Latino Students research. The objectives of this research are to study the characteristics of Latino students awarded the Latino Scholarship Award at the University of South Florida and learn about the sources that help them pursue higher education. Please click on the following title to learn about our research Students Research.

The best testimony of the importance of helping Latino students attain educational success is the graduation rates of Latino student who are given the resources and support to pursue a bachelor degree. Graduating from college is a considerable achievement given that many of these students come from families where college education has been only a lofty dream. Helping Latino students attend and succeed in college is more than a contribution to an individual, is a contribution to our country.

News from the 2003 issue of FLORIDA TREND'S NEXT

Why apply for scholarships? Why?! Hello, this is free money. And for some families with financial concerns, scholarships might make certain schools or even higher education in general an option they might not have considered possible.

That was the case for Roberto Fuentes. Moving from Mexico to Tampa at 15 to live with his uncle was a tough thing for Roberto, especially after the death of his mother and father. Imagine having to deal with all the pressure of high school in a completely different country from where you were born. Roberto worked hard to graduate with a 3.6 GPA. His effort earned him a Latino Scholarship Award from the University of South Florida. This money, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ybor City (in Tampa), opened doors for Roberto. “Without this scholarship, I probably could not go to college,” he says. (Roberto is part of the Successful Latino Students research).
 

Click on the following link to see a description of our research:

Brief description of our research

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© 2003 by USF Latino Scholarship & Community/Mental Health Counseling Program. All rights reserved.