HISPANIC HERITAGE Conference encourages excellence

A speaker said more Hispanics should aim to enter science and engineering.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Denise Rodriguez-Lopez, deputy director for the White House Initiative on Excellence for Hispanic Americans, encouraged young Youngstown-area Hispanics to recognize education as their ticket to excellence.
Rodriguez-Lopez was the keynote speaker Friday for the Hispanic Heritage Conference in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University.
Rodriguez-Lopez said Hispanic pupils should focus studies on reading, mathematics and science with the goal of placing more Hispanics in science, mathematics and engineering fields.
"Hispanic parents recognize the importance of education, that success comes through academic preparation," she said. "We are working on a public-private partnership with business and industry to help empower parents and students. Sometimes they need help navigating the system."
Rodriguez-Lopez said a key for Hispanic pupils -- and all pupils -- to excel is to make the most of every opportunity, not to take education lightly.
"I urge them to take advanced placement courses, to use their senior year not as a fun time but a time to work hard, get some college credit and get a step ahead of everybody."
Rodriguez-Lopez was director of government affairs and legislative policy in the Washington, D.C., office of the Cuban American National Council before being appointed to her White House post.
She has a bachelor's degree in business administration and earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School.
Other highlights
Friday's Hispanic culture celebration also featured comments by Dr. Silvia Jimenez-Hyre, assistant to the dean and coordinator of outreach for the College of Fine and Performing Arts at YSU and commissioner of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic-Latino Affairs; and Dr. Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, professor of philosophy and religious studies and director of the Dr. James Dale Ethics Center at YSU.
Organizations such as LUNA, Latinos United Networking Association Inc.; The Mexican Club of Youngstown; and Mi Gente, Youngstown State University's Hispanic-Latino cultural organization, made information available to those in attendance.
Hispanic Youngstown-area pupils and Hispanic YSU students were given recognition for their academic and leadership achievements.
Recognized were: Lana-Monique McElrath, YSU senior; Monique Arocho, Wilson High School senior; Angello Astorga, East Middle School eighth-grader; Eligio Bonilla, Campbell Memorial High School sophomore; Evangelina Figueroa, Wilson High School junior; Jacinta Figueroa, Volney Junior High eighth-grader; Estrella Flores, YSU senior; Lauren Lopez, Campbell sophomore; Tajh Rosado, East Middle School eighth-grader; Jasmine Soto, Campbell senior; Brett Torres, Chaney High School senior; Angelica Vega, Campbell sophomore.
tullis@vindy.com