Mike Wolanin | The Republic Shelbyville High School student Miriana Cruz signs up to volunteer with Su Casa during the Exito Latino conference at the Columbus Learning Center in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.
Latino high schoolers from Bartholomew, Jackson and Shelby counties recently had the chance to learn more about the possibilities that await them following graduation.
The annual Exito Latino conference was held at the Columbus Learning Center on Aug. 25. There were 200 11th and 12th grade students from the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., Seymour High School and Shelbyville High School who attended the event, said Latino education and outreach manager Luz Elena Michel Marti with TuFuturo.
The bilingual conference was organized by TuFuturo, IUPUC, Ivy Tech Community College – Columbus and Purdue Polytechnic Columbus, with the purpose of helping students prepare for life after high school.
“I think that was a great experience for them,” Marti said. “It’s a good way that they can open their eyes and start thinking about their future.”
According to Marti, the event featured a keynote address from Karen Torres, who participated in the TuFuturo program when she was a Columbus North High School student. She is now an admissions counselor specializing in first year, early college, and Hispanic students at IUPUC.
Other activities included a mini college fair, lunch, a dance party with a DJ, remarks from professionals about what a typical day looks like for each of their careers, and a presentation about the Latino-American Organization of Volunteers in Education.
There were also breakout sessions on a variety of subjects, such as mental health, financial aid, college life, career exploration and embracing Latino culture.
Marti said that while there’s always room to improve, she feels that this year’s conference was a success.
“The Latino community has grown a lot (here) in the last few years and also in surrounding areas,” she said. “And with this conference, it’s a great way for students to build a sense of community and see the support system that they have around them.”
