March-2024 Cooperative Living-SVEC - SVEC20

First-Generation Scholars: First-Rate Learners
Virginia organization fosters Latino college dreams
by Lydia Weaver, Community Relations Specialist
T
he disparity of ethnicities in
college students across American
campuses can be discouraging
for those in the minority. Couple that
with a language barrier or not having an
experienced family member to guide you
through the application and admission
process, and suddenly, dreams of higher
education can feel out of reach.
With the encouragement of
educators and mentors, local Latino
high school students are bridging the gap
between these dreams and reality.
Scholars Latino Initiative encourages
and fosters fi rst-generation, collegebound
Latino students in Winchester,
Harrisonburg and Richmond. As stated
on its website, SLI's mission is to support
these high school students with college
access through " rigorous academic
challenge, leadership development,
scholarships, and supportive
mentorships. "
To join SLI, students must be
recommended as a candidate by a teacher
and apply during their freshman year
of high school. Scholars are inducted at
the end of their freshman year and are
expected to commit for the next three
years, until graduation.
Carlos Alemán, a James Madison
University professor and the SLI
program director for Harrisonburg
High School, says students are chosen
based on several factors. While grades
are a consideration, not every straight-A
Latino student may have a need for SLI,
especially if they already have access
to experienced college graduates or
professionals in the family.
Latino scholars show an abundance
of life skills at a young age. Th ey know
how to advocate for others because
they've being doing it for years.
" Especially students whose parents
are Spanish-speaking members, " says
Alemán, a fi rst-generation college
graduate of immigrants.
18 * Cooperative Living * March 2024
" Th ey've been speaking as surrogates
for their families at doctors, legal settings,
education settings, as translators. Th is
person has been engaged in important
decision-making opportunities and
situations since they were 10 years old.
Why don't we use that as a skill? Why
don't we use that as real leadership and
real problem solving? [Th ey have] an
Amy, a sophomore at HHS, is in
her fi rst year of SLI and enjoying it,
despite initial concerns about the GPA
requirements.
" It was the fi rst time a teacher had
recommended me to a program, " she
says. " So, I was like you know what, I'm
going to just try to do my best. "
Alemán says they fi nd the best
qualities within the students to transform
them into the most marketable and
Amy (right), a Harrisonburg High School
sophomore in SLI, chats with a VMRC
resident during a community service visit.
understanding of the sort of complex
situations that most 40-year-olds don't
know how to deal with. Th at's what
makes our group unique. "
Sometimes, immigration issues can
complicate fi nancial aid. Th at's another
area where SLI comes in.
" SLI enables and provides a place for
students to be with other people who are
in their same situation, doing something
that their families aren't necessarily
familiar with, " Director of Development
Christopher Clymer Kurtz says.
Clymer Kurtz says SLI provides " a
place to learn how to pursue their dreams
and believe that they're possible. "
It's evident having a place where they
belong is something SLI scholars value.
Seeing other Latino classmates in their
advanced placement and dual enrollment
courses makes them feel less out of place.
Even that initial recognition of value
from the teacher who recommended
them can be motivation to the students.
promotable scholars for universities.
Even though their distinguishing skills
may be below the surface of what meets
the eye, with SLI's assistance, students
implement their full potential to stand
out on college applications.
" Cream of the crop, " Alemán says.
" Th is is the cream. What we like to do is
stir it. "
A FULL-TIME COMMITMENT
Lara Maquera, a school counselor
at John Handley High School, is the
SLI programming director for the
Winchester division. For students to
remain active in the program, she says,
they should be able to keep themselves
in good standing in relation to grades,
participation in all SLI activities,
community service hours, college visits
and more.
Juggling extra curriculars, course
loads and SLI activities can be a test of
time-management skills. Luckily, that's
just another lesson to better prepare
scholars for college and adulthood:
choosing what to commit to, knowing
your limits and making hard decisions.
Alemán says, " Learning how to say no
to good, so you can say yes to great, is a
really important life skill. "
Maquera says in addition to weekly
meetings, commitment includes
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