Accomplishments, Recognitions and Acknowledgements

Accomplishments and Recognition

44 of the 56 students who have graduated from high school have/are enrolled in college at a community and technical college or a four-year university including BCTC, University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Western Kentucky University and others.
Eleven (13) received a local Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government‟s Partners for Youth scholarship sponsored by Toyota since 2006.
Three participant received the University of Kentucky‟s William C. Parker Scholarship, two students were accepted to the Governor‟s Scholars Program, three students have received full scholarships and housing scholarships from Northern Kentucky University, seven students received scholarships from the Migrant Network Coalition, and much more.
Past Participants have created the following student organizations to promote college including:
Woodford County High School, Esperanza Club
Oldham County High School, Soñadores
Harrison County Schools, Amigos
Montgomery County High Schools, Middle School Preparation Initiative
Kentucky Dream Coalition, statewide!

In 2009, of 36 new participants attended; from this group:

One student is already enrolled in college at the University of Kentucky, and 4 are enrolled in the Opportunity Middle College program with BCTC and Fayette County Public Schools
36 of the 40 students attended the 5th Annual Latino/Multicultural Student College fair held on October 12th , 2009 at the University of Louisville

In 2010, 60 students applied to attend the camp. 40 were accepted to attend, 35 attended; from this group:

One student is already enrolled in college at the University of Kentucky, and 4 are enrolled in the Early Middle College program with BCTC and Fayette County Public Schools, 1 at WKU, 2 at OCTC, 1 at Somerset Community College, and
27 of the 35 students attended the 6th Annual Latino/Multicultural Student College fair held on November 17th, 2010 at the University of Kentucky.
All the students are enrolled in an educational institution (high school and/or college)
Two students received Partners for Youth Scholarships

Other accomplishments include:

Of the 56 LCEC participants that have graduated from high school, 44 have continued on to college (79% college going rate, compared to only 34% overall of Latinos/immigrants that attended college).
In addition, because of participant support, the 6th Latino/Multicultural College fair hosted over 550 high school youth (Hispanic, Latino, ESL and immigrant/refugee), 45 community college students and many high school teachers and counselors.

Acknowledgements

In 2006, the BCTC Office of Latino/Hispanic Student Outreach was named a finalist for the Examples of Excelencia by Excelencia in Education.
Sited and highlighted in the doctoral dissertation by Dr. Gioconda Guerra, “Higher Education Programs and Policies that Impact Latino College Students in Post-secondary institutions in Kentucky” the LLCEC and the Office of Hispanic Outreach and Student Support Services were well received and valued by student participants. Excerpt below:

“Two policies were identified as being helpful for students. Frequently identified was the assistance of financial aid officers. In addition, students at one session were encouraged by the Hispanic/Latino Outreach Office at BCTC and by a specific program organized out of that office. Every summer, for the last four years, some Latino high school students across Kentucky participate in the Latino Leadership and College Experience Camp (LLCEC) where junior and senior high school students experience college life during a week period. Both the office and this specific program had positive feedback from all students in the Bluegrass Community and Technical College session.

Student comments sited in dissertation:

“Everything that Erin [head of Hispanic/Latino Outreach Office at BCTC] does help[s] us to keep going, for example the summer camps. When you see other kids participating in this camp and they look at you like as a role model that really puts pressure on you. That makes you keep going.”

“These kids look at you like you are „great‟ and really you are just a few steps ahead of them, but for them, we are so far away. This type of program encourages you to work harder.”

“It is nice to hear other students saying that they want to be like you. At the summer camps, they ask questions on how we have been able to overcome all the obstacles and looking back we proudly say „perseverance and motivation‟.”

“The researcher reiterated whether there were specific programs/policies that they perceived were intended to recruit Latinos or to help them to enter postsecondary education. Students did not have a clear knowledge about any program or policy. Most participants indicated they heard about it but had no specific concrete knowledge.

Community Colleges. “Not at all,” “Nothing that I remembered,” and “I can‟t think of any one in specific.” These were the most frequent responses from participants all across the three community college focus groups. The only exceptions were the experience of participants in pre-college summer camps sponsored by the Bluegrass Community College… and the existence of the Hispanic/Latino Outreach Office in Bluegrass. These students pointed out the great impact such experience had on them. Notable in contrast was the absence of such comments from the other two campuses [ECTC and JCC].

“I was a participant in the summer camp last year and that experience connected me with college life and I saw the possibility to be part of it.”