Issue date: 6/7/05 Section: News

Next month, 150 Hispanic high school freshmen will learn public speaking and communication skills, as well as discuss topics relating to the Hispanic community when they travel to Texas A&M as part of a youth leadership conference.The Young Leaders Conference (YLC) is sponsored by the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) and will last for four days. Student activities include forming debate teams and competing against each other. “(The students) have been practicing for the past couple of months, honing their communication and debate skills,” said Marcie Longoria, associate director of community affairs and public relations for NHI.Longoria said there will be four debate events, including extemporaneous speaking, mock trial, cross examination, oral interpretation and a six-minute speech that must be in Spanish.James Anderson, vice president and associate provost for institutional assessment and diversity, said that while A&M will not be actively recruiting Hispanic students at the conference, he hopes the students will be able to learn about the campus.“While we won’t directly recruit the students because of their intense involvement in the Young Leaders Conference, our hope is that their first contact with Texas A&M is so rewarding that they will consider our University in the future,” Anderson said.Anderson said the NHI provides high-achieving Latino students with learning experiences in a collegiate environment that hones their skills for becoming future leaders. Longoria said the students are selected for NHI in a national search.“The Institute annually carries out a nationwide search for youth who aspire to attend college, demonstrate a 3.2-plus grade point average and exhibit a strong interest in Latino community life,” Longoria said.Longoria said the NHI tries to help students beginning in high school, but remains in contact with them in college and after graduation.“While the training begins in high school, the Institute’s intent is to remain engaged with its program participants throughout their academic careers and beyond,” Longoria said.Anderson said A&M decided to become involved in the program to help high school students achieve their educational goals.“It is important for Texas A&M to participate in any program that involves high-achieving and academically sound students,” Anderson said.Anderson also said that by hosting an event such as the YLC, the University could establish ties with high schools and communities where such ties may not have existed before. Anderson said that A&M enjoys supporting programs that promote higher education.“(A) phenomenal statistic is that 65 percent of (YLC students) have obtained advanced degrees after college,” Anderson said. “Few programs in the country have such immense success.”Xy Rivera, a junior education major, said she thinks the conference will be beneficial to the YLC students.“I think that it’s a good idea that A&M is hosting the conference because it’s a good opportunity to reach out to minority students who might not have thought (about attending A&M),” she said. “In (some) places where minorities are majorities, they do not always have access to opportunities which will further their education or their opportunity for education.”

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