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San Diego State University staffer Nancy Moreno (left, bottom) gives career information to Southwest High School student Deborah Amezcua, 17, (center, bottom) as her mother, Estela Amezcua looks on Tuesday during Parent Night at the Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro. (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / May 22, 2012) |
Hundreds of Imperial Valley students and their parents visited with more than 30 higher education representatives Tuesday during Parent Night of Higher Education Week II.
The annual event, sponsored by the Imperial County Office of Education’s P16 Council, provided insight and information about the at-times daunting college application and college-going experience.
Representatives fielded questions on everything from tuition and financial aid to driving distance from the Valley and class sizes.
“We’re eight hours away, but we know that Imperial Valley students have a lot of potential and sometimes they’re afraid of moving away, but we want to show them the opportunity they have, not only locally, but throughout the state,” UC-Merced Southern California Admissions Officer Juan M. Villegas said.
Maria Martinez attended Parent Night with her daughter, Central Union High School sophomore Kayla Haywood, and felt the event was very useful.
“She wants to go to medical school, and they’re giving good advice on what classes to take first and how to apply to medical school,” she said.
Higher Education Week I is held in September and geared mostly toward seniors about to send off applications while this week is mostly for high school juniors preparing for next year.
Representatives visited with Imperial Valley schools Monday, Tuesday and continue today.
ICOE Director of Education Denise Cabanilla said Parent Night is a great opportunity for families to gather higher education information as well as make contacts with representatives without having to expend a lot of time or money.
“It’s all in an effort to promote a college-going culture and provide families with information for students in regards to higher education,” she said.
Most families in the Imperial Valley are first-generation college graduates, and “it can be a tough road to navigate,” Cabanilla said.
With the opportunity to ask specific questions, students and parents are able to make better informed decisions about which higher education path to take in order to make it the most successful experience possible, she added.
Some high school seniors also take the opportunity to get last-minute information from representatives before heading to school in the fall.
Calexico High School junior Natalia Altamirano said she thought it was very helpful to be able to talk to so many colleges and universities all in one place.
Representatives come from mostly California, Arizona and Baja California and include Grand Canyon University, various University of California campuses, San Diego Christian College, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise, CETYS Universidad and more.
For the first time this year, the event also featured an “Ask a Parent” booth with parents whose children are already in college or in the process of going, providing a different personal perspective of the higher education experience.
“They can really answer all the questions that parents are really scared about,” such as coping with being away from family and how to help with time management, said Martha Singh, California Student Opportunity Access Program assistant director.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or at cadami@ivpressonline.com
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