NJIT's Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council and HISPA Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
The Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council (HLLC) along with HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) celebrated Hispanic Heritage month at NJIT during HISPA’s Role Model Program Kick-off and Recruiting Event.
HISPA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that mobilizes Hispanic professionals to eradicate one key reason why Hispanic youth do not pursue education – a lack of role models. Through the HISPA Role Model program, youth conferences and corporate visits, their volunteers emphasize the importance of academics and demonstrate that all students can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
During the event, the HLLC awarded their HLLC Scholarships to forensic science major Jennifer Santos and digital design major Andrew Gabriel Flores.
President Teik C. Lim welcomed HISPA to campus and shared his thoughts on the importance of mentors in students’ lives and careers.
“Having people you can look up to, having a system that protects you and provides you the environment to be successful is key,” said Dr. Lim. “And NJIT, in my mind, is one of those environments.”
Prior to the event, NJIT students attended workshops organized by PSEG, Bloomberg and Yoshida Academy.
The HLLC and NJIT have partnered with Yoshida Academy to deliver a seven-session pilot program titled “Know Your Place”. During this program, participants will explore different ways to change their current narrative coiled with limitations and cultural baggage and exchange it for powerful tools to become role models that inspire and claim their rightful place in society.
“Never in a million years did I think that it was even possible for me to first serve on the HLLC, then to be able to bring a program (Know Your Place), and to also be able to represent an organization that truly is inspiring Latino students every day like HISPA,” said Angelica Ogando ‘02, ‘11, HLLC co-chair. “It was a success all around, because I know of the impact that HISPA itself is making overall to move the needle when it comes to the younger Latino population in middle schools and high schools in giving them hope that there is a possibility to become an engineer, to become a scientist, to dream big.
“That's near and dear to my heart.”
HLLC Scholarship Recipients
Santos, who in the past year has been a member of the Forensic Science Living Learning Community and has recently joined the Forensic Science Student Association and the Caribbean Student Organization, is proud to receive this year’s HLLC Scholarship. “The financial part is helpful, but getting awarded feels like such an honor, to be noted as someone who's doing something here.
“It makes me really happy, it gives me more of a push forward, to keep going in my education, to keep going in like extracurriculars and stuff like that,” she said. “It motivates me a lot more.”
After graduating, the Newark native plans to pursue a career relating to DNA or serology, which is the branch of forensic sciences dealing with identification and characterization of biological, evidentiary samples — such as blood, saliva, sweat, and any other bodily fluids.
Flores plans to move to New York City or Los Angeles after graduating. The Paramus, New Jersey native aspires to work with companies to create a variety of designs dedicated to improving user interface and user experience across multiple platforms.
“This scholarship really means a lot to me,” said Flores. “My mom and dad immigrated here from their respective countries, Ecuador and Peru, and to be able to win this award on behalf of who they are as immigrants and people who had to start from nothing, it just holds a special place in my heart.
“It feels amazing to know that I achieved this for being who I am. I am so proud to be Hispanic and for getting to where I am now with the background that I have.”
“The HLLC is working really hard on behalf of the Latino students, not only to provide them access to capital, but also to help in the efforts the university is making to make the university truly Hispanic-serving,” added Ogando.“And for us, one of the most important things is to show the students that they have support when it comes to what their needs are, and the resources that they need to get to the next level.”
“It was such an amazing night. It was one of those moments where you get to see the students not only realize that there is a reward when they work hard, but also to be able to see them and see their family supporting them, cheering them on, letting them know that they're on the right path. For me, that's always very important.”
NJIT Awarded HISPA’s CORAZON Award
On January 18, 2024, HISPA will formally present the CORAZON Award to NJIT at their annual Three Kings Banquet.
HISPA CEO Ivonne Díaz-Claisse shared the reasons behind why NJIT will be honored with the CORAZON Award, which is given to an organization that has supported HISPA with in-kind support. She highlighted that NJIT, through the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) staff, opened the doors to HISPA and helped them out when their idea was only a pilot program.
“The fact that NJIT is hosting us here today, that you have provided convening power, the fact that you are opening the doors for the HISPA leaders to come here and be close to the college students, it's priceless,” said Dr. Díaz-Claisse.
“It's really all about recognizing the in-kind support that comes from el corazón, that it comes from the heart, of leaders in the community in particular in this case NJIT.”
On the successful event achieved alongside NJIT, Dr. Díaz-Claisse said: “HISPA is all about connecting the Latino leaders, in particular, with the youth in the younger grades – middle school, high school, but also college. So you're bringing a vision that HISPA has always had to engage the college students as role models for our younger students. This is what we're doing here today, we're connecting the professionals that have been volunteers with the organization with the students that will be the next generation of role models for our youth.”
