What: 4th annual Young Achievers Forum
When: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21
Where: UTEP campus
More than 1,000 6th grade students from all over El Paso will come to The University of Texas at El Paso for the 4th annual Young Achievers Forum.
The forum is a partnership between UTEP and Community en Acción (CEA), a local civic organization of leaders dedicated to instilling Hispanic pride in their community.
“UTEP has long sustained a strong partnership with Community en Acción through the efforts of the Young Achievers Forum,” said UTEP Employer and Community Relations Manager Christian Corrales. “This partnership focuses on empowering future generations to value the importance of going to college.”
Students will be exposed to four broad career fields throughout their visit: STEM, Health/Medical Sciences, Business/Finance and Liberal Arts.
“The goal is to bring elementary school students and their parents to campus for a day of inspiration, motivation and education. Parents will receive information on what they can do to help prepare their children for post-secondary education,” said CEA spokesman and Paso Del Norte Children’s Development Center Executive Director Jamie Barceleau.
UTEP President Diana Natalicio will deliver a welcome at 8:30 a.m. during the forum’s opening session in Magoffin Auditorium. Students will then be grouped by different colors to rotate through a series of presentations delivered by more than 100 professionals volunteering to speak about their careers. Presentations will take place in classrooms around campus.
More than 100 UTEP student volunteers will serve as guides to the students throughout the day.
Students arrive on campus by bus from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The opening ceremony runs from 8:30 to 9 a.m. with career presentations taking place from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Presentations by youth service organizations take place during lunch with a closing session to follow at 1 p.m.
“The Young Achievers Forum has the goal of changing the mindset of poverty in order to overcome the cycle of poverty,” said CEA spokesman and local business leader Raymond Palacios.
For more information, contact Christian Corrales at 915-747-6403 or ccorrales@utep.edu.