Roundtable presents first Hispanic College Fair

Cleveland: On Thursday, November 12, 2009, some 250 Cleveland Public School high school students attended the first Hispanic College Fair at Cuyahoga Community College (CCC) Metro Campus auditorium.  The event was presented by the Hispanic Roundtable Community Programs as a part of Convención 2010.  There were 17 colleges present during the day, discussing the college application process, financial aid, and college success strategies.

Speaker Carlos Ojeda and students, with Dr. Juan Andrade in the background.

The keynote address was delivered by Carlos Ojeda, Founder of Distinct Communications.  Ojeda is an inspirational motivational speaker who discussed his upbringing in the New York City area, his academic challenges growing up, and his eventual outstanding success.  According to many of the students, “he was the perfect keynote speaker.”  The students were on the edge of their seats throughout and riveted to him during his presentation.  After the event, students discussed fundraising efforts to sponsor the return of Mr. Ojedo to address other students.

José C. Feliciano, Chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable, welcomed the students and observed how important and historic this event is to the Latino community of Cleveland.  Dr. Juan Andrade, President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, attended the event and delivered remarks commenting on the importance of these students to the region and the importance of the region to the country.

Andrés González (Director of Diversity for The Cleveland Clinic), Victor Ruiz (Vice President of Cleveland Scholarship Programs), and Dean Diana Del Rosario (Cuyahoga Community College) were key participants, providing leadership to the event.  Dean Del Rosario was the overall coordinator.

The College Fair is a key activity of the Hispanic Roundtable Community Programs, which sponsors a community-wide convention, the next of which will be in October 2010.  The Fair is at the core of the Hispanic Roundtable’s Mission to act as a catalyst and to, among other things, advance the education of Latinos in Ohio. 

The co-sponsors were: The Hispanic Roundtable, the Cleveland Scholarship Program, the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Esperanza inc., and Cuyahoga Community College.