Freddy Quiteno, a recent Lipscomb graduate, looked out at the crowd in Allen Arena and said, “Without the YMCA Latino Achievers, I might not be standing here on stage before you. I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I received from the staff.”
His comments came earlier this month, during the 10th annual dinner honoring YMCA Latino Achievers.
Up-and-coming Hispanic college students are the focus of the program. The program has achieved much success in its high school initiatives, which have a 100 percent graduation rate and half of its participants moving on to college.
Dinner invitees include national and local businesses that have contributed financially to the organization’s program. The annual event serves as an opportunity not only for local businesses to support a good cause but also for Hispanic professionals to network and serve as mentors and role models to the students.
Tabbata Castillo, a senior nursing major, gave the welcome, greeting benefactors with her testimonial about how she has benefitted from the program.
Lipscomb students shared what they appreciated about the program.
“The Latino Achievers Program has really helped me just by allowing me to be here [at Lipscomb]. If it wasn’t for this program, I wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to go to college,” said Melanie Re, a sophomore studying corporate management.
“It was encouraging that there was a program that put hope back in my life,” she said. “Coming to Lipscomb through the program was the best decision I ever made.”
Sophomore Oscar Rayo, an interntional business student, said, “Not only did they help me find more scholarships, they also helped me to develop more networks that would connect me to other people not only at Lipscomb but also at other schools.
“They also gave me the hope in graduating, seeing other students graduate from the program.”
Students from colleges and universities across Middle Tennessee, including Trevecca Nazarene, Lipscomb, Vanderbilt, MTSU and TSU were present.
For more information about the program, contact the YMCA Latino Achievers office at the Harding Place Family YMCA by calling 615.743.6206 or sending an e-mail to latinoachievers@ymcamidtn.org