Texas Border Business
Many Latino students have worked hard to earn a college education, and many are first-generation college graduates. Not having the traditional in-person graduation ceremony is a heartache for the whole family. Excelencia in Education, a national non-profit organization that aims to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, is leading a group of Latino organizations and higher education institutions coming together to celebrate the Latino graduating seniors in the class of 2020 through a special campaign dubbed, Greater Than Graduation Graduation. This event was live-streamed at 1 p.m. on June 5th and can be viewed later on Excelencia in Education’s Facebook page.
This program will feature a message from El Paso Community College (EPCC) President, Dr. William Serrata. In addition, EPCC student Alexis Santos was selected to be part of a distinguished group of 2020 Latino college graduates for an intimate conversation with Maria Hinojosa of LatinoUSA that will also be streamed. “El Paso Community College graduates are exceptional, they are successful when they transfer to four-year institutions and they are also competitive in the job market,” Keri Moe, Associate Vice President of External Relations said. “We are very proud of the Class of 2020 and look forward to honoring graduates across the nation during Excelencia’s Greater than Graduation Celebration.”
These are turbulent times in our country as we navigate a pandemic and the pain and turmoil in the streets. Through it all graduates are reaching a significant milestone. The Greater Than Graduation campaign will remind Latino graduates that, while most will earn their degrees without a traditional celebration, their future accomplishments, enhanced with their education, are just beginning. Their education has given them the opportunity to make a positive and sustained difference in the world. These graduates are getting started at a time of uncertainty in our world, but they are not alone; we are with them. “Latino college students are a rapidly growing segment of America’s higher education population, and their potential is boundless,” said Sarita Brown, President of Excelencia in Education. “Their graduation is something we should celebrate. After all, Latino graduates will ensure America’s future.”
On June 5th, an online Greater Than Graduation celebration will feature influential leaders, such as Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Allan Golston, President of the US Programs, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who will address Latino graduates of the class of 2020. The celebration will also feature remarks from Maria Hinojosa, host of National Public Radio’s (NPR) Latino USA. The keynote address will be immediately followed by a conversation between Hinojosa and select Latino 2020 college graduates from across the nation. A replay of the celebration can be seen on Excelencia in Education’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/681482822427214/.
EPCC is a partner with Excelencia in Education and one of only nine colleges to receive the Seal of Excelencia designation for our service to Latino students.
