KU News Release

March 2, 2007
Contact: Aida A. Garcia, Office of Multicultural Affairs, (785) 864-4351.

Latino Leadership Summit brings area high school students to KU

LAWRENCE — About 190 students and advisers from schools in Lawrence, Topeka, Wichita, Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., spent Feb. 20 at the University of Kansas for the inaugural Latino Leadership Summit.

KU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the program for students in grades nine through 12 who have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 and exhibit leadership potential. One goal of the summit was to provide information in Spanish and English to the growing Latino high school student population in Kansas and the Kansas City area.

The summit addressed issues of social adjustment, higher education preparation and leadership development. In general sessions and breakout discussion groups, students and their advisers met with visiting speakers and KU administrators and students.

Eva Vega, program administrator at the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs at New York University, was a keynote speaker and facilitator for the female leadership breakout workshop. She has worked in college administration, diversity training and organizational development for more than 12 years.

Elias Garcia, executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission, was a special guest for the lunch that featured entertainment by members of KU’s Hispanic American Leadership Organization. The group also performed a skit on the importance of an education.

Lori Reesor, associate vice provost for Student Success, welcomed participants in the opening morning session. Program coordinators who addressed general sessions and breakout groups were Aida Garcia, program assistant for the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Juan Izaguirre, assistant director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Hispanic American Leadership Organization adviser; and Santos Núñez, program director for KU’s Multicultural Resource Center, who also was the keynote speaker at the closing session.

Advisers from Kansas City, Kan., who accompanied students were Margarita Moore and Christine Phillips, Bishop Ward High School; Lori Mason, Sumner Academy of Arts and Science; Cathy Daly, Washington High School; and Andrea Pantoja, Young Women on the Move after-school program. Advisers from Topeka were Veronica Castorena and Marciela Gutierrez, French Middle School; Ana Halpin, Jerry Toledo and Esther Vannucchi, Highland Park High School; and Linda Kotich and Rene Valdivia, Topeka High School. Other advisers were Rosina Aguirre, Lawrence High School; Kasey Stadler, Olathe North High School; Peggy Toledo, Wichita High School East; Jeff Freund, Wichita High School North; and Brother Alan Parham, De La Salle Education Center, Kansas City, Mo.

Hispanic American Leadership Organization members who assisted with the summit are listed below by hometown, major and level in school, parents’ names, high school attended and office held. A list of high school students who attended the Latino Leadership Summit are listed below the HALO members.

BUTLER COUNTY
From Andover 67002
Allison Ingram, freshman in biochemistry, daughter of Michael and Amber Ingram; Andover High School; HALO member.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City 67846
Eloy Gallegos, senior in political science, son of Arnulfo and Rosie Gallegos; Garden City Senior High School; HALO member.

HARVEY COUNTY
From Newton 67114
Stephanie Gomez, junior in human biology and Spanish, daughter of Steve and Diana Gomez; Newton High School; HALO vice president.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Merriam 66202
Raul Sanchez, senior in psychology, son of Enrique Sanchez; Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, Kan.; HALO treasurer.

From Olathe 66062
Mariza Rosales, senior in speech-language-hearing, daughter of Mike and Virginia Rosales; Olathe East High School; HALO member.

RILEY COUNTY
From Riley 66531
Elizabeth Copeland, senior in international studies, political science and Spanish, daughter of Jay and Vonda Copeland; Riley County High School; HALO member.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson 67501
Rachel Raya, freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, daughter of Gabriel and Angie Raya; Trinity Catholic High School; HALO member.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67206
Andrea Valdivia, freshman in computer science, daughter of Fredy and Juana Valdivia; Andover High School; HALO member.

From Wichita 67212
Shawn Jacobson, senior in Latin American studies; Wichita High School Northwest; HALO member.

From Wichita 67216
Israel Interiano, junior in accounting, son of Amilcar and Daysi Interiano; Wichita High School East; HALO member.

From Wichita 67217
Carlos Mena, freshman in theatre and film, son of Carlos and Mary Mena; Wichita High School South; HALO member.

SEWARD COUNTY
From Liberal 67901
Jesus Castillo, junior in political science, son of Samuel and Carmen Castillo; Liberal High School; HALO sergeant-at-arms.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66607
Christopher Munoz, sophomore in sociology, son of Lalo and Anna Munoz; Topeka High School; HALO president.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66102
Juan Gonzalez, junior in pre-business (accounting), son of Eva DeJesus; Washington High School; HALO member.

CALIFORNIA
From Santa Monica 90405
David Gonzalez, sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, son of Gonzalo and Felicitas Gonzalez; Santa Monica High School; HALO secretary.

Students who attended the summit:

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.

kunews@ku.edu | (785) 864-3256 | 1314 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045