Spring Break
Events encourage youth
Erin Hull
Issue date: 2/21/06 Section: News
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Organized by the SJSU Office of Pre-College Programs and the National Hispanic University, the conference, which runs through today, aims to provide support and networking opportunities for high school students from around the state involved in Upward Bound programs.
The federal TRiO program began with the establishment of the Upward Bound program in 1964, and selects economically disadvantaged and first-generation students to mentor, encouraging them to pursue college educations.
National TRiO Day, enacted by Congress in 1986, serves as a day of recognition for the accomplishments of the program.
Events at SJSU Monday ranged from speeches from politicians to musical and dance performances. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D- San Jose, was scheduled to deliver the keynote address, but cancelled because of illness.
Youth-band mariachi Juvenil Batres was greeted with applause as young women belted out traditional Mexican ballads, backed by trumpets, guitars and violins.
The advice from politicians, however, was sobering and memorable, said East Palo Alto High School sophomore Erica Jack.
"It's very inspiring," Jack said. "(The advice) is pushing me to do everything I need to do to get into college."
Joe Coto, California Assemblyman for the 23rd District began his speech with memories from his childhood. As the son of a copper miner in Arizona with a fifth-grade education, Coto said, he had to create his own opportunity.
When he told his father that a high school counselor told him that he would be good working with his hands, Coto said he found himself in a "tragic situation" of being educationally limited rather than encouraged.
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