NHI launches digital symposium series on college planning starting June 8

The National Hispanic Institute is launching its first-ever Digital Leadership Symposium on Monday, June 8, with a series on college planning to run through early August. The online learning experience, continuing throughout the summer, is designed to engage a group of rising juniors and seniors who committed to attend a Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session in 2020. Though the pandemic has necessitated the postponement of 2020 LDZ programs to 2021, NHI is invested in providing students with programming to keep them thinking and talking throughout the summer and into a return to school next fall.

“This symposium is designed to give students and parents insider information about college planning, and to provide a healthy outlet for students to learn more about Latino culture, leadership, and, of course, their peers. Participating in the symposium means they will be able to meet NHI staffers and volunteers, build new friendships, and start networking for next summer. Students will also get to meet celebrity guests and elected officials, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” said Nicole Nieto, NHI’s Executive Vice President.

The Symposium sessions are open to those enrolled in a 2020 program—either an LDZ which will now convene in 2021, or the current GDx or CWSx digital learning experiences—for no additional cost. They are, of course, designed with LDZ students in mind, to allow them to engage in leadership education this summer—while allowing for those students’ LDZ experiences to engage in public.

The College Game Plan program is one of three planks that NHI is creating its online programming around. The curriculum will bring college counselors and advisors directly to students via Zoom’s online conferencing platform (and other digital platforms to be determined) to provide college planning guidance. It will culminate in college fairs on July 8 and 30 that will involve nearly 40 universities. While the sessions will help students prepare for 2021 Collegiate World Series programs providing an immerse college prep experience, they’ll also engage students who are currently considering college options and seeking more information.

“We know that many of our students have added stress from the college application processes, due to the current pandemic,” said Alma Raymer, NHI’s Associate Director for Enrollment & Institutional Relations. “NHI wants to offer students and families the answers to their college planning questions. We’re partnering with experts we know as well as our host colleges and universities, especially our valued College Register institutions, to make this happen. Panels will cover a range of topics, and we look forward to engaging you at any that interest you!

The College Game Plan program will include these college planning sessions (with sign-up links):

Monday, June 8, 4-5 pm CT

College and University Admissions Guidance, featuring admission representatives from Colby College, Macalester College, Southwestern University, St. John’s College, The George Washington University, and Washington University in St. Louis

Monday, June 15, 2-3 pm CT

Financial Aid and Scholarships at Public U.S. Colleges and Universities, featuring Taylor Sowells, Texas One Stop Coordinator for Campus Enrollment Services at the University of Texas at Austin

Monday, June 15, 4-5 pm CT

Admissions at Selective & Highly Selective Institutions, featuring Marisa Zepeda, an educational consultant and former NHI staff member who was instrumental in the launch of the first NHI Decision Day

Monday, June 22, 2-3 pm CT

From Insta to LinkedIn: Leveraging LinkedIn & Building a Professional Profile, featuring Andrea Medina, an NHI alumna and LinkedIn’s Global Program Manager for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Monday, June 22, 4-5 pm CT

Evaluating “Fit” and College Choice, featuring admission representatives from Colby College, Macalester College, Southwestern University, St. John’s College, The George Washington University, & Washington University in St. Louis

Monday, July 6, 4-5 pm CT

College Application Guidance (CommonApp, Coalition, ApplyTexas, etc.), featuring admission representatives from Macalester College, The George Washington University, Washington University in St. Louis

Monday, July 13, 4-5 pm CT

Studying in the U.S./Student Visas and Outlook Due to COVID-19, featuring NHI board president Michelle Saenz-Rodriguez and NHI board member George Rodriguez, senior partners at Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, a Dallas-based immigration law firm

Monday, July 20, 4-5 pm CT

Standardized Testing in the COVID-19 Era, featuring admission representatives from Macalester College and The George Washington University

Monday, July 27, 4-5 pm CT

SAT/ACT Overview + What is Test Optional and its Impact, featuring Roy Nieto, co-founder and CEO of educational consulting firm SureScore

Monday, August 3, 4-5 pm CT

Financial Aid in the COVID-19 Era, featuring admission representatives from Colby College, Macalester College, The George Washington University, and Washington University in St. Louis

The two Digital College Fairs, powered by Gamma Iota Sigma, will be held from noon-3 pm CT on Wednesday, July 8 and 2-5 pm on Thursday, July 30.

The other two parts of the 2020 Digital Leadership Symposium will include Cafe y Cultura, a series on artists and innovators (including NHI alumnus and choreographer Gustavo Vargas, with a Latin Dance session scheduled for June 18), and sessions with NHI alumni (including Ocasio-Cortez, date TBD, and actor Nicholas Gonzalez, scheduled for July 28). The Symposium will also feature sessions with NHI co-founder and president Ernesto Nieto, and co-founder and senior executive vice president Gloria de Leon.