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Esperanza launches
Campaign 25 and recognizes estudiantes
By Arooj Ashraf, La
Prensa Cleveland Correspondent
Esperanza’s 18th Annual Fiesta of Hope
luncheon presented 45 scholarships to 39 brilliant Latino
students from Cuyahoga and Lorain County on June 27, 2008.
More than 300 guests gathered at Windows on the River in
the Flats to honor these students’ achievements and celebrate
Esperanza’s 25 years of service to the Greater Cleveland Latino
community.
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Students line up
to receive their awards |
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Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson presented a proclamation to Board
President Felicia Soto and said ‘the organization
provides great educational opportunities in a city where the
average high school graduation rate is 48percent.’ He
congratulated the students and said they will emerge as
important leaders for Cleveland. Jackson encouraged them to
study hard, work diligently, and, most importantly, “Never
forget where you come from.”
For Eddalind Morales, making sure her daughters Essairis
and Sermaly remain devoted to serving the community is
essential. Both her daughters received scholarships to continue
their college education. Tears of pride streaked down her cheeks
as she expressed gratitude for Esperanza, its supporters and
volunteers who contribute to its continuous success.
“If it wasn’t for Esperanza, we wouldn’t be here,” said Essairis,
a senior Nursing student at University of Akron and four-year-
scholarship recipient. She is grateful for the investment
Esperanza has made in her education and is looking forwarding to
building her own legacy in the Latino community.
Her most precious legacy is younger sister Sermaly, who is
steadily following her footsteps. “I liked how my sister was
doing everything, and the recognition she received, she’s
motivated and always follows through with her commitments and I
want to do the same and more,” she said.
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Sermaly will be attending Akron University in the fall to pursue
a Respiratory Therapy degree. She plans to work for the
Cleveland Clinic and make the most of her bilingual
heritage.
Keynote speaker Lorraine Vega, Senior Vice President of
Key Corp, reviewed all scholarship essays and said a common
complaint among students was the lack of role models and mentors
in the community. She pointed out that the CEO of McDonald,
Kellogg, and Nike are all Latinos.
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Eddairis,
Sergio, Eddalind and Semaly Morales |
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For local role models, she pointed to the many accomplished
leaders present in the hall, many of whom were past Esperanza
students. “I want you to know it is possible to succeed as
Latinos in the greater community,” she said.
Vega asked Esperanza’s founders, staff, students, and
scholarship recipients to stand up and be recognized. One by
one, they stood up to cheers of ‘Vivia la luz!’ Vega
encouraged students to network, find mentors, and get to know
their peers well. “Keep a wide circle of friends, especially
those you think you do not like, explore, stay informed, and,
most importantly, vote,” Vega said.
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Esperanza was founded in 1983 and provides inner city and
suburban students with tutoring, technology training, leadership
development, mentoring, college and career counseling and
scholarship assistance. The first scholarship awarded to a
Lincoln West student was $200; this year, the organization
awarded $40,000 in scholarships thanks to generous sponsors and
grants.
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Ken Wiley, daughters Cadia, Lina, wife Lorraine Vega, and son Ken
Wiley, Jr. |
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Kim Wheeler,
WKYC Channel 3 anchor, applauded Esperanza’s mission, saying she
knows from personal experience that every scholarship provides
peace of mind for students struggling to keep up increasing
tuition fees. Wheeler works as an education reporter and said
Esperanza’s students are some of the brightest and most
motivated she has ever met. “I hear people complaining about the
kids today, and I say they are not meeting the same kids I am,”
Wheeler said.
Vega concurred and said Esperanza’s scholarship recipients have
an average grade point average of 3.4, they are pursuing careers
in engineering, health sciences, industrial design, law, and
social work and 80 percent are Latinas.
Data colleted and analyzed by Esperanza estimates 70 percent of
Cleveland Latinos drop out before completing their high school
diploma—the highest of any ethnic group. Limited access to
computers and technology, language, culture, poverty and
isolation are key barriers to their education. |
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The organization gives hope (esperanza) to students and
encourages them to strive for a college education. A core
mission is to reach out to the youth early and get them involved
with after-school activities and develop their strengths.
Jean Ohlenbush,
Esperanza Grant Consultant, said its easy to influence
elementary students, but the real challenge is shaping high
schools students and keeping them out of the streets and the
streets out of them.
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Essairis
Morales, Scholarship Sponsor Juanita Nazario and Mayra Correa |
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The Latino population in Ohio is projected to grow and the need
to bridge the education gap is becoming critical for the state’s
economy. The Jobs Revolution 2005 report predicts over 85
percent of new jobs created by 2015 will require more than a
high school diploma.
Esperanza is preparing to fill the void. “We are launching
Campaign 25 which will sustain current programs, build new
initiatives that will better Latino educational and economic
opportunities in the region and increase the scholarship funds,”
she said.
Soto said the organization has excelled in the past 25 years and
asked sponsors and friends to actively shape its success by
donating money and time. She encouraged the students to remain
active and connected with Esperanza and set their dreams and
goal high. “You don’t know what you can’t do until you try it,”
she said.
Vega reminded students that an Ivy League education does not
necessarily equate success. “Your ambition, people skills,
attitude, and hard work will make successful careers, its not
always where you are, who you are with, what matters is what
you do with what you have,” she said.
For more information on Esperanza, Inc., call (216) 651-7178 or
visit
www.esperanzainc.org
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Esperanza’s
Board President Felicia Soto |
Barbara
Esperon, Jose Vasquez, and Amy Ramos
Esperanza’s Top Ranking students: Mayra A. Correa (Social
Work), Keisha M. Gonzáles (Industrial Design), Cynthia Y. Burgos
(Psychology), Raymond R. Nelson (Law), and Alicia M.
González (Nursing). |
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