UCI opens doors for Newport-Mesa students

Deirdre Newman

UCI CAMPUS -- Before coming to the university to study electrical

engineering, Raul Bejar went to Estancia High School in Costa Mesa and

participated in the Save Our Youth scholarship program.

On Tuesday, Bejar shared his experience of growing up in Costa Mesa,

all the while focused on going to college, with more than 200 Latino

students from the district’s middle and high schools.

While this was the fifth annual Latino Youth Conference, there was one

important difference this year: The conference took place on the grounds

of UC Irvine to give the Latino students a personal introduction to

college life.

“By giving them a visit, they get a piece of what being a college

student is like and what school looks like,” Bejar said.

The conference focuses on increasing the number of Latino high school

graduates and aiding them in attending college, as well as providing

counseling and other social services.

Save Our Youth, too, is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children

and providing them with guidance and assistance.

The idea to bring the conference from Costa Mesa to UCI originated

with Victor Becerra, director of the university’s Community Outreach

Partnership Center.

“Many students have not had an opportunity to be outside Costa Mesa

and get exposure to a place where education is emphasized and valued,”

Becerra said.

The students toured the campus, attended workshops on college

preparation and financial requirements, and heard from a panel of four

UCI students from Costa Mesa, including Bejar.

Hugo Cardoza, a junior from Newport Harbor High School, said it was

exciting to get a firsthand glimpse of college life.

“We learned how they live here, the way they treat other people --

they’re pretty nice here -- and we learned it takes a lot of hard work

and good grades,” Hugo said, adding that he would like to go to college.

Teresa Sanabria, a freshman at Estancia, said she was already planning

to attend UCI for college.

“I learned about the costs of college,” Teresa said. “My favorite part

was walking around and seeing the buildings.”

Bejar is confident that seeing others from the same background will

motivate the students to pursue their college aspirations.

“I guess we were seen as role models today,” Bejar said. “We know the

neighborhood, the community. If they see we’re striving to accomplish our

own career goals, they can do it too.”