The UA Hispanic Alumni Club
Monday, 29 March 2010 21:09
It is easy for even the most confident of students to feel lost and sometimes insecure at such a large school like The University of Arizona. This year, with a freshman class of 7,000, it is especially important for students to find a place where they can go to receive advice, guidance and support.
The UA Hispanic Alumni Club (UAHA) has been that place for Hispanic students since 1982. Offering scholarships, academic guidance programs and even a place to meet peers. The UAHA has helped thousands of students succeed while also enjoying life here at the UA.
Oscar Lujan, the Executive Director of the UA Hispanic Alumni, said his favorite part of working at UAHA is seeing the students graduate.
“It is nice to see the kids go through all four years succeeding and then see them graduate," he said. "It’s watching dreams come true.”
Lujan said the UAHA will have handed out 40 to 50 scholarships to some of the 234 students the program is working with this year.
“We have a really good retention rate," he said. "It’s around 90 percent for the students who will stay in UAHA and will graduate in four years.”
Students do not have to apply for a membership to be a part of the UAHA, however, there is an application and review process in order to receive a scholarship from the program.
Erin Kunces, a senior at UA, says she believes the UAHA is more than just an academic program offered at the school.
“I have friends who were considering transferring because they felt overwhelmed at first," she said. "Then a couple of them heard about this program and they really found a place to make them feel like they belonged.”
Lujan said that feeling left out is not the only common problem he finds among freshmen.
“I also see when the high schools do not prepare them well enough for college," he said. "So if they come here, we can direct them to tutors, learning centers and programs to help keep up their GPA.”
Even though UAHA students come from all over, the majority come from closer locations such as Nogales, Douglas, Yuma and Phoenix. Lujan also stressed how important it is for current students to see Alumni members still being active.
"They set such a good example, even though their college days are over, they are still around, still involved and give back to the program that helped them succeed."
Lujan said that UAHA spreads the word about its program to young students in high school so that they are aware of it before they enter the university. UAHA also closely works with the Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs office to help expand their network on campus.
For more information about UAHA, visit their website or visit the UA Alumni Office in the Marvin D. "Swede" Johnson Building.
Written by Marcy Christine Jones You are reading The UA Hispanic Alumni Club articles
News
- Tucson Reacts to TUSD Mexican-American Studies Elimination
- Bombing Range Offers Pristine Wilderness
- Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience
- The Gangs of Tucson
- Local Group Asks Residents for City Planning Advice
- 2011 Democratic Election Night Party Live Coverage
- Tucson Elections
- Immigration live blog
Culture
People
Education
Health
Sports
- Former UA Tennis Player Redirects His Passion for the Game
- Soccer: The New Flavor of Tucson Sports
- 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Kick Off
- International Student-Athletes, Bringing More Than Just Competition
- Bikes across borders
- Vacation for Both Sides of the Border
- International Athletes at the UA
- International Tennis Seniors' Final Homestand
Food
- Sushi Chef: Noboru Nakajima
- A Tortilla-Making Family Tradition
- Pin-up Pastries Enjoys Huge Success at Tucson Meet Yourself
- Tucson Eat Yourself: El Guero Canelo
- Tamales for Local Happiness
- A Festival Full of Culture
- Food Vendors Caught on Camera
- Pin-Up Serving Attractive Pastries at Tucson Meet Yourself
Twitter Updates
Who's Online
We have 18 guests onlineBorder Beat Blogs
By: Alexandra Newman
This blog compares Mexican and American women in terms of their culture's beauty ideals and traditional gender roles.
By: Audrey A. Fitzsimmons
The Southwest boasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wealth of interesting personalities. Border Personalities is dedicated to the people of the Southwest and their stories.
By: Brett Haupt
A visual exploration of America’s last frontier -- pictures and videos from different areas of the wall and fence that separate two different worlds and insight into what really stands between the United States and Mexico, ramifications of wall building and what it means for the average citizen.
By: Charles Misra
Stories about martial arts and combat sports with a cultural twist, all finding a home in America's southwestern borderlands.
Culture CrossingBy: Chelsey Barthel
American borders are crossed every day by cultures of all kind. These stories tell the personal experiences of people from different lands, offering further insight into the difference of cultures.
By: Emily Kjesbo
Spotlighting Mexico’s top travel destinations, as well as a few of its hidden gems.
By: Hope Jamieson
Explore dance throughout the borderlands.
Border PeopleBy: Jamie Turow
Profiles of English language learners.
MLS Soccer comes to the DesertBy: Jeff Kessler
All about the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, a 10 day exhibition soccer tournament featuring four Major League Soccor teams coming to Tucson.By: Jessica Hoerth
Meet some of the people in Tucson who have made the journey across the border as they share what they came in search of and what struggles they may have encountered along the way.
Border ShotsBy: Keith Perfetti
A photojournalist looks at how other photographers have viewed the border and shoots lesser known spots of the southwest.
By: Lauren Inouye
A look at Mexican and Latin films that reflect culture, politics, and society -- reviews, research and analysis.
By: Lauren Urratio
Fashion and how it is impacted by the border and international cultures.
Border AthletesBy: Lauren Sokol
Meet international student athletes at the University of Arizona, a look at the recruiting process that helped them find a temporary home in the desert, and culture changes that the athletes might have endured.
Public Safety and Crime near the U.S./Mexico Border
By: Lucy Valencia
Public safety along the border and any crime-related issues. A look at issues that occur within the justice system when Mexican and U.S. laws overlap.
A City of Musical DiversityBy: Maria Teracena
Tucson musicians influence and are influenced by the sounds of the world.
The Border ProjectBy: Melissa Guz
"The Border Project" is an art showcase located in the University of Arizona's Museum of Art. It has over 40+ art pieces related to border issues.
Athletics and the BorderBy: Preston Fawcett
Get to know high school coachs and athletes from Arizona border towns or from Mexico and their struggles to get to where they are.
A Mosaic AmericaBy: Rachel Kolinski
"Exploring Diversity one Face at a Time"
Educación en la FronteraBy: Shannon Maule
A look at higher education in regard to those who have and have not been able to travel from various countries to the United States. Stories from people in the higher education world relating to the border.
Music of the BorderBy: Steven Schiraldi
Music reviews of musical works by Mexican or other ethnic artists.