Latino conferences on college and career success to be held

The Hispanic college fund will host programs this summer for Latino students in the Metropolitan area from July 5 to August 5. The deadline to register for the event is April 30.

The organizations will run programs to motivate students to attend college and to provide them with helpful information and tools to aid them with the college process.

Every year, the Hispanic college fund hosts the Hispanic Youth Symposium, the nation's only program that incorporates college counseling, mentorship, and career advice in a sleep-away on-campus setting. The symposium lasts three days and two nights and allows students to sleep in dorms, eat in dining halls and get a glimpse of the college experience.

According to the Pew Hispanic Research center, the high school drop out rate for Latinos is 21 percent, more than twice the national average. The Hispanic Youth Symposium strives to create a pathway to success for Latino high school students by connecting them to the public and private sectors and nonprofit organizations. The symposium stresses academic achievement, community service and personal responsibility. It also offers multifaceted workshops, seminars, networking and mentoring opportunities focusing on building a foundation for future success.

On the first day, students create solutions for real-world policy issues and meet successful Latinos from many professions. On the second day, students focus on college preparation and career opportunities. College recruiters will be present to speak to students about college preparation and career opportunities. On the last day of the program, scholarships are distributed to outstanding students and to the winners of the speech, art and talent competitions.

The summer program is open to sophomores and juniors in high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA. The registration is free and can be completed online at the Hispanic Youth Symposium's website.