EWC to Sponsor Adelante Ninos
April 17, 2008
TORRINGTON, WY -
Eastern Wyoming College, in conjunction with the Goshen County School District, is sponsoring, for the fourth consecutive year, "Adelante Ninos - Onward...Upward...to Higher Education." This program, scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 9:00 a.m. -1:15 p.m., seeks to increase the expectation of elementary-aged children for college enrollment and to familiarize these students with college life. The program also introduces a philosophy of "expected attendance" into the early school careers of children under-represented in higher education.
Conference Director Anne Gardetto of Eastern Wyoming College states, "Across the country, institutions of higher education are realizing the importance of reaching down not only to the high school level, but also to the middle school and elementary level in encouraging, motivating, and inciting higher educational goals/dreams of America's children. This is deemed essential particularly for those children who may perceive that college is "out of reach" for them financially/socially/emotionally."
The program, funded by the EWC Board of Trustees with additional assistance received from the Wyoming Department of Health-Children's Special Health, has consistently grown over the last four years and has expanded district-wide with an expected attendance rate of over 270, including participants across the state of Wyoming and Nebraska. The program presents a model of how institutions of higher education can coordinate with local school districts and instill higher educational goals in our younger-aged children. The conference features a dual track of academic stations designed for children and an educational track designed for parents on becoming effective partners in their child's academic success.
Program activities for participating elementary students will include visits to designed academic stations on campus which illustrate the avenue of study and potential career areas available to those individuals who obtain a degree. While the emphasis of the program will be the exposure to a serious academic environment, the program itself will combine enjoyable activities for 5th grade level students with the adventure of a field trip to a different place. Designed academic stations feature some of the following topics: (1) "Building Bridges: Adventures in Engineering," presented by UW Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Jerry Hamann; (2) "Wild Kingdom: Adventures in Animal Science," presented by EWC Instructor Dr. Ed Bittner; (3) "Celebrating Literature: Capturing the Joy of Reading," presented by Scottsbluff County Librarians Deb Carlson and Nancy Escamilla; (4) "It's Great to be Bilingüe!" presented by GCSD staff Jenny Delgado and Pamela Garcia; (5) "Fantasy and the World of Make-Believe," presented by EWC Library Staff Marilyn Miller, Becky Lorenz and Casey Debus; (6) "Baila el Mambo" (Dance the Mambo), presented by professional dance instructor Kathy Tabor of the Tabor Dance Academy, Scottsbluff, Nebraska; (7) "The Magic of Choosing Your Future," presented by Dr. Earl Reum, Denver, CO; (8) "Discovering Science," presented by Amy Tilson, Front Range Community College, Denver, CO.
The conference's parent educational track features some of the following topics: (1) "Educación con Corazón: What Latino Parents Can do to Help Children Succeed in School," presented by Dr. Francisco Rios, Professor, Educational Studies, and Director, Social Justice Research Center, University of Wyoming; (2) "Stop the Money Leak - Ensuring the Financial Means and Exploring Financial Options to Meet the Costs of Higher Education for Your Child," presented by Irene Romsa, NEW FUTURES Project, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Pamela Palermo, EWC Director of Financial Aid; (3) "Strategies to a More Effective Parent Engagement," presented by Teresa Garcia, Consultant, Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, Denver, Colorado; (4) "The Support Ladder: Fourteen Attitudes and Actions Parents Can Take to Support Their Children in School and in Life," and more.
The conference is open to the public and features a free luncheon with cultural entertainment provided by Los Guadalupanos Dance Group. The First General Session begins at 9:00 a.m., EWC Fine Arts Auditorium, Torrington, Wyoming, and will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Ramona Klein, President, Eagle Consulting, Bismarck, North Dakota. Dr. Klein, a national speaker, specializes in providing educational services, teacher training, human resource management, and life coaching skills. Her public address is entitled: "Dreams are Whispers within Your Self."
The first General Session will open with an originally choreographed dance number to the music Raising Up and featuring the Tabor Dance Academy of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Dr. Francisco Rios, Professor, Educational Studies, University of Wyoming, will serve as the conference luncheon speaker addressing the topic "Keys to Success."
Another conference highlight includes a drawing for four $50.00 savings bonds (for education) for participating parents. (Parents must be present to win.)
For more information and/or to pre-register, please call Anne Gardetto, Eastern Wyoming College, 307.532.8328.
