By Victoria Cruz
News Writer
On March 25, the Organization of Latin American Students hosted an opportunity fair to connect students with campus resources available to them.
OLAS hosted eight different campus groups at the event centered around Latino-focused resources. Students were asked to visit every station using a passport to encourage their participation.
“We were really inspired to put something like this together because we really like to bring people together and make sure people know about the resources available to them,” business information systems major Catalina Espinosa, a junior, said.
Students spoke directly to administration and student leaders to learn about their educational opportunities.
One of the organizations that connected with students was the Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services.
Representatives from CASAS shared ways students can excel academically using their unique support programming.
Building on these efforts, the UndocuAlly Student Alliance shared resources available to undocumented students and their peers.
Students were able learn about upcoming events and guarantee the safety and educational well-being of any student who may need additional support for their immigration process.
Expanding students’ global opportunities was another key focus of the event. The Office of International Education hosted two representatives to cover their diverse offerings.
One introduced students to the various study abroad options available, including short-term faculty-led trips and semester-long programs.
The other representative introduced students to the Fulbright Program which offers funding for research organizations and student teaching opportunities abroad.
Another organization present at the event was Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity.
By promoting a community that is focused on fostering connection, support and cultural engagement, the fraternity aims to uplift Latino voices.
The Women in Leadership Academy brought a strong focus on empowerment to the event by highlighting resources designed to help women step into leadership roles.
Through workshops and educational programs, they provide a supportive space for women on campus to connect and support their community.
The Office of Career and Professional Development serves as a hub for students, with programming to help all students feel confident starting their career.
Guiding Eyes Puppy Raising connects students with dogs in training that will later assist those who are blind or visually impaired.
These specialized service dogs are raised and trained while living with students.
Students who attended the event said they enjoyed exploring the wide range of campus opportunities and resources available to them.
Psychology major Ariana Lecates, a junior, said she was proud of how many students came to the event to support and gain new information.
“There was a really great turnout,” Lecates said. “It’s really exciting people liked to see the different departments.”
Although the event was open to all students, Lecates emphasized that its main focus was on Latin students.
“We were really pushing to have Latin-focused opportunities. Students should know what is available to them. I hope other programs recreate similar events to help students get connected to opportunities,” Lecates said.
Biology major Melany Villavicencio, a junior and OLAS President, said that she was impressed with the outcome of the event.
“It went exactly as we envisioned it. Students and partners applauded our whole team on creating a chance for them to share their opportunities,” Villavicencio said.
She shared a special thanks to all the OLAS allies and partners who came together to support their mission.
“We wanted to showcase opportunities on campus to our students. We are so grateful for our community allies who helped bring the event together,” Villavicencio said.
