Colorado State University’s El Centro Hosts Annual Recognition of Graduating Latino Students’ Achievements

Colorado State University’s El Centro, the  advocacy office for Latino students, will hold its 23rd annual achievement awards and banquet at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Lory Student Center Main Ballroom.

The festivities will center on the theme of "Diversity among Latino Culture," which honors the diversity that exists among the university’s students, parents, staff, faculty, colleagues and supporters of El Centro Student Services.

Every year, students graduating from Colorado State and their families are encouraged attend the awards ceremony and banquet. Community members and students’ parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends are encouraged to attend to celebrate student accomplishments.  

"The many students graduating are excited that youths in the community are invited and encouraged to attend. The awards program is an opportunity for youth of the future to know that students graduating in the class of 2006 will encourage them to continue to stay in school," said Guadalupe Salazar, El Centro director. "The stories graduating students share of their many challenges and successes will inspire the participants that Latino are successful leaders who continue to make a difference in the lives of others. These students are our future leaders, leading the way for others to continue to enter our universities."

For more than 28 years, El Centro has helped Colorado State students succeed at the university through a variety of services and academic programs to help students transition into university life and develop study skills. El Centro provides services such as academic and financial counseling, cultural activities, personal and professional development, scholarship information, mentoring opportunities and referrals to connect with other departments. The office also provides students with work-study employment, internships, independent study opportunities and research opportunities. El Centro promotes the history and culture of people of Mexican and Latino ancestry and provides educational cultural enrichment programming throughout the academic year for students to learn about the richness of the Latino culture.

Anita Encinias, who graduates this fall and who used El Centro services, said that her experience at Colorado State was one she would not forget and was very positive due to El Centro. "The knowledge that I have acquired is endless," she said. "I have learned much – not only in the classroom, but through what life has brought to me. These past four years have been hard but fun, and I could not have done it without the support of my family and friends."  

The evening will begin with registration at 6:30 p.m. Pre-ceremony entertainment will be provided by Dinorah Curkendal, Grupo Aztlan and three student speakers.

Tickets for the dinner and ceremony are $30 per person and must be reserved by 5 p.m. April 24. Graduating seniors receive complimentary tickets for themselves and a guest. For more information or to make reservations, contact Shirley Guitron in the El Centro office at (970) 491-1926 or e-mail her at sguitron@lamar.colostate.edu.

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