Emporia educators want to learn from Hispanic students and their families. Two sessions of “El Futuro es Tuyo” (The Future is Yours) are set for Monday, April 24 and Sunday, April 30.
During the sessions, representatives of Emporia Public Schools, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will take questions and listen to concerns from families and students about access and affordability of higher education.
The free events, which will be hosted in Spanish, are at 6 p.m. Monday, April 24, at the Emporia Recreation Center, 313 W. Fourth Ave.; and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at St. Catherine’s Church, 205 S. Lawrence St. Child care and meals will be provided for all who attend.
In Emporia Public Schools, Hispanic students make up 44 percent of enrollment.
“It’s important that our students understand how to leverage their educational opportunities after high school,” said Kevin Case, superintendent of USD 253, Emporia Public Schools.
Also presenting at “El Futuro es Tuyo” will be community members who will share their experiences in higher education, including Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College.
“We have some amazing students from the Emporia area who have had great success at Emporia State,” said ESU President Allison D. Garrett.
A Georgetown University study showed that 30 percent of the 55 million job opens created by 2020 will require some college or a two-year associate degree.
“We want to provide higher education opportunities for everyone in our community. Our graduates immediately make an impact on the economy in Emporia as well as the state of Kansas,” said FHTC President Dr. Dean Hollenbeck.
Representatives from both the university and technical college will be available for one-on-one discussions.