12 WMS/WHS Students Attend Omaha's Hispanic/Latino Summit
Annual Event Stresses Academic Success
Launch the media gallery 1 playerOn Monday, September 28, 2011, twelve students from Wahoo Middle and High Schools attended the Hispanic/Latino Summit in Omaha at the Embassy Conference center.
The purpose of the summit is to increase cross-cultural understanding, showcase Hispanic/Latino student achievement success and highlight resources available to support their success. These messages were threaded through the keynote presentation and the selection of sessions the students attended.
The keynote speaker discussed how important education has been in his life, even though he did not necessarily realize its importance during high school.
In reference to the keynote speaker, WMS 8th grader Vianey Sotelo said, “The speaker made me get emotional.”
Students selected three sessions to attend throughout the day. The sessions covered topics such as being involved in school, applying to college and tips for employment. They learned the acronym S.A.L.S.A. to use when deciding which college is best for them (size, academics, location, $cha ching$, activities).
It was an empowering experience for the twelve students, or, in the words of 8th grader Giselle Hernandez, “fue un día maravilloso.”
Many students commented on the information they learned about scholarships and college applications.
“The summit showed me more doorways to college,” said 8th grader Ana Boesiger. “They showed me many scholarships that could help me.”
“If you get good grades and be involved in school you could go to college on a scholarship,” said 8th grader Austin Hand
“The Latino summit was an amazing experience for me to attend again. It reminded me that if I push myself at something, eventually I will get it. I should never give up on my dreams,” commented WHS senior Olivia Morales.
“It was very good because I saw a reflection of what I need to do for life after high school,” concluded junior Yesica Rodriguez.