Weekend program introduces latinos to U.

Latino high school students will get a taste of college life as they converge upon the University today for a weekend of tours, dinners and information sessions. But Cedillo emphasized that the program was not established only as an effort to encourage students to apply to the University. "The program was established to get students to apply to college," said Emily Rodriguez, an organizer of the weekend. "There are not enough latinos in higher education." Many latino high school students complain that their guidance counselors discourage good students from applying to schools like the University, Cedillo said. Instead, the counselors encourage the students to apply to community colleges where they are sure to be accepted. "[The weekend] allows latino students to see people like themselves that have been successful in a university like Penn," Cedillo said. College freshman Karen Velasquez, who attended the pre-applicant weekend last year, said the program pointed out opportunities she did not know were available to minority students in higher education. "It opened my eyes and let me see that minority students do have a chance in higher learning," Velasquez said. "It makes you realize that no matter how many people put you down, you still have the opportunity to seek a better education." Velasquez said high school counselors advised her to apply to community colleges because they did not want her "to get [her] hopes up." But she added the pre-applicant weekend encouraged her to "go for it." The program -- sponsored by MEChA, the Asociacion Cultural de Estudiantes Latino Americanos and the Admissions Office, will begin with a Festival of Culture tonight from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the High Rise North rooftop lounge. According to Rodriguez, about 12 University offices and student groups which help or are run by latino students, including University Counseling and the Greenfield Intercultural Center, will be at the festival to give out information about their services. In addition, Sonido Seis, a salsa band, will be performing at the festival. Rodriguez also said the festival is open to the University community. Tomorrow, the high school students will attend a series of seminars about college life and the University. And Olga Rubio, an adviser and assistant dean in the College, will deliver a keynote address. In addition, a semiformal dinner will be held tomorrow in the High Rise East rooftop lounge from 6:30 to 8 p.m. A send-off party, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., will follow the dinner, and anyone from the University is welcome. Saturday, before the applicants leave for home, they will hear from a panel composed of University latino students from the different undergraduate schools. Rodriguez said the panelists will reflect on their experiences at the University and answer questions from the high school students. Afterwards, members of the Kite and Key Society will take the students on a tour of the University. Rodriguez, who has been helping plan the weekend since the end of the summer, said she is excited about the program. "I think it is a real positive thing," Rodriguez said.

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