College Declaration Day with The Foundation for Hispanic Education

May 15, 2018

On Friday April 27^th The Foundation for Hispanic Education (TFHE), San Jose City College and Silicon Valley Latino presented the first College Declaration Day focused on TFHE schools, Latino College Preparatory Academy (LCPA) and Luis Valdez Leadership Academy (LVLA), where 23 seniors declared their college selections. The College Declaration Day is an opportunity for students to announce their college choices in a format similar to Collegiate Declaration Days presented by sports network channels and popular on social media. Only this event celebrates academic achievement, not touchdowns. Unlike highly recruited Football players, these students have been accepted to notable universities on academic, civic merit and Ganas. It’s our mission at Silicon Valley Latino to ensure these academic honorees are celebrated by our local community through this special event and that they are featured through our various platforms so that our online community may also celebrate them and take pride in their achievements. With destinations across the country ranging from The University of Pennsylvania to UCLA, from Duke University to UC Berkeley, students from Luis Valdez Leadership Academy and Latino College Preparatory Academy are embarking on the opportunities of a lifetime. Many of these students will be the first in their family to go to college and for them and their families this is truly a significant event as many of them could not imagine such a day four years ago at their middle school graduations. Four years of effort and focused determination have led these students on this illustrious path. The joy and sense of achievement was palatable that evening. Dry eyes? Not many. Master of Ceremonies Jeff Camarillo (LVLA) and Jesus Rios (LCPA) delivered such eloquent and memorable remarks on each recognized student. Sharing stories first hand of trials and tribulations, hope and encouragement, laughter and tears, but most of all joy. The pure joy of their realizing the passion of each student’s path. Basking in the celebration of this very important milestone in their own professional lives and the lives of the students they have grown to bond and love these past four years. As each student addressed the audience, you could really feel the sense of pride shared with their friends, family and community who had gathered to share in this exciting event. Speeches delivered by students gave recognition to the people who had supported them on their journeys. Students gave thanks, but more importantly shared the promise of one day giving back, just as they have been given. Here is the list of honorees that evening… Latino College Preparatory Academy: Brian Guevara, Duke University. Dalliana Banuelos, Santa Clara University. Alicia Brady-Sabioncello, University of California, Santa Cruz. Hugo Ayala, University of California, Santa Barbara. Anahy Jimenez, University of California, Merced. Lucydania Robles, University of California, Berkeley. Angel Jauregui, Saint Mary ' s College of California. Briseyda Aguilar, University of California, Berkeley. Melanie Mireles, University of California, Berkeley. Jazmin Dominguez, University of California, San Diego. Cristina Martinez, University of California Merced. Yeimy Ventura, University of California Berkeley. Luis Valdez Leadership Academy : Abisaid 'Abby ' Esquivel, University of Pennsylvania. Angela Rascon, Saint Mary ' s College of California. Aylin Velazco, Bryn Mawr College. Roberto Alvarez, Sacramento State University. Cheyenne Ferranti, University of California, Los Angeles. Lesley Sanchez Garcia, University of California, Merced. Ivette Mondragon, University of California, Davis. Oscar Diaz, University of California, Merced. Andrew Garcia, California Baptist University. Emily Espino, UC Riverside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvJl0U1GsE ¡Felicidades! to all the students who were honored that evening. Viva Class of 2018! #CreoEnTi