PETERSBURG, Va. – Among the 80 Virginia high school students that participated in the Hispanic College Institute at Virginia State University (VSU), Monica Negron found plenty of encouragement during the institute for the college plans she nurtures as a rising high school senior.
“I have to go to college and make something of myself. I have to show [my siblings] that people are going to tell you ‘no’, but that doesn’t have to keep you down,” Negron said.
For Negron and the others, faculty and administrators at Virginia State, a historically Black university in Petersburg, Va., along with volunteers and Latino professionals, sought to make college life appear to be a natural and inevitable destination for these ambitious students.
“This is an inspirational institution, this is a motivational institution, this is a confidence-building institution, [and] this is a life-changing institution,” said Dr. Mirta Martin, the Hispanic College Institute chair and the VSU School of Business dean.
Coordinated this year by the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN), this annual program prepares Hispanic students to enter and succeed in higher education. In order to apply for the HCI, students must have a GPA of 2.5 or above and be a rising junior or senior at a Virginia high school. In the past, the program has been run by the Hispanic College Fund (HCF), but because of a lack of funding, HCF had to back out of running the 2012 program.
VALHEN, however, stepped up and coordinated the program. Because of generous sponsors, an all-volunteer staff, and room and board provided by VSU, the program was free for every student.
Dr. Keith Miller, VSU President, explained that, although Virginia State is an HBCU, he wanted to support HCI because “we need to encourage all people to further their education.”
