The University of Louisville鈥檚 2015 freshman class is expected to have the largest number of Latino students in the institution鈥檚 history.
That鈥檚 according to UofL Cultural Center Director Tierney Bates, who said 113 Latino freshmen are expected and the center stands ready to help them be successful college students and members of the Louisville community. Nearly 4 percent (628) of all undergraduate students, including freshmen, self-identify as Latino.
鈥淲e continue to see an uptick in our Latino student population just about every year,鈥 Bates said. 鈥淲e want to do everything we can to help these students network with others and tap into university and community resources.鈥
As part of those efforts, the center will host the 2015 Louisville Latino 成人直播 Outreach (LLEO) Aug. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shumaker Research Building, Room 139.
This is the first time UofL has hosted the event, which brings together supporting organizations that include the Americana Community Center, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Jefferson County Public Schools and Greater Louisville International Professionals.
Sarah Nunez, who directs the center鈥檚 Hispanic and Latino Initiatives, said bringing LLEO to the university 鈥渟eemed like an ideal way for students to feel connected to campus and our community partners.鈥
The Cultural Center has for years hosted an Early Arrival Program for under-represented groups. The program helps students transition from high school to college with opportunities for discussions, networking, social activities and strategies for academic success. This year鈥檚 Early Arrival Program runs Aug. 19-21 and includes the LLEO event.
LLEO is a project of the Kentucky Latino 成人直播 Alliance and is funded through the Lumina Foundation.
Edgardo Mansilla, executive director of the Americana Community Center and a longtime advocate for Louisville-area initiatives that support immigrant and Latino populations, said, 鈥淥ur efforts to collaborate show how different entities can galvanize behind a common cause that enriches the next generation of Latino students.鈥 Mansilla also has been an instructor in UofL鈥檚 Kent School of Social Work.
For more information, contact Nunez at 502-852-0230.
