NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2005

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu

COLLEGE CAREER DAY AT UH URGES LATINO STUDENTS
TO SAY ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! TO HIGHER ED

Nearly 300 Latino high school seniors from seven area schools will take part in a College Career Day, Monday, Feb. 28 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., sponsored by the University of Houston Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS). The event introduces Latino students to college life and, equally important, how to pay for it.

“There is a misconception that college is out of reach for these students,” said Lorenzo Cano, associate director of CMAS. “In reality, there are many scholarship and other financial opportunities that students and their families should research and pursue.”

Students will receive a tour of the campus and attend workshops on financial assistance and student life. They will also have lunch on campus.

“It’s our hope to put this information in front of students to help them understand how possible a college education is,” Cano said. “The message we want them to take home is ‘yes you can! ¡Sí se puede!’

CMAS offers five College Career Days every year to Latino high school seniors who have at least a B- grade point average and have taken Algebra II. Houston area high schools receive invitations to participate. Cano estimates that 800 students a year are introduced to UH through CMAS’ College Career Days.

Last semester, Hispanics made up 18 percent of the UH enrollment, approximately 6400 students.


For more information on CMAS please visit http://www.class.uh.edu/CMAS/

WHAT: UH Center for Mexican American Studies College Career Day
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28
WHERE: UH University Center, Entrance No. 1, please click here for directions: http://www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/UC.html

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.