By Staley White
An organization at Utah Valley University is helping high school students who may not have thought college was in the stars for them change their minds at the Young Dreamers Conference.
According to a UVU news release, the event was held recently at the Timpanogos Lodge in Provo Canyon. UVU student counselors and participants engaged in ice-breaking activities, laser tag, motivational speeches and discussions focused on change.
The counselors are members of the Unidos Saldremos Adalente Leadership Program at UVU. It consists of 15-20 Latino students and friends who want to help each other and the Latino community.
Marcelina Zamora, multicultural admissions coordinator in the prospective student services department at UVU, founded USALP.
“When I started working here, I found there was a need to reach out to the Latino youth in the community and encourage them to go to college,” Zamora said.
USALP has gone to more than 50 high schools and middle schools in Utah to share their message that college is an option. They visit Latino in Action classes, Spanish classes and some ESL classes.
“We’ll go to any school where they will give us the opportunity to talk to their students,” Zamora said.
After successful encounters at these schools, Zamora decided to help those with behavioral and education problems escape the negative label they receive.
Sam Pereira, who is actually a BYU student but was invited to be a counselor by his brother Victor Pereira, a board member for USALP, said the conference was an experience that inspired change.
“We were talking about changing ourselves and not letting anyone else determine who we are,” Pereira said.
Jay Molock, admissions counselor at the University of Utah, was the keynote speaker. Pereira said his speech was the most impactful portion of the conference.
Afterward, parents were invited to a luncheon and their children taught them what they learned. USALP wanted families to see that creating change is a team effort involving schools and families.
Pereira said he knew the conference was a success when he saw the interaction between students.
“Toward the end of the conference the kids were saying goodbye to each other and saying ‘I hope I get to see you next year,'” Pereira said. “This could be very successful if they keep going.”
