CWU to fete new Latinx faculty, students, and staff

To officially greet the newest members to the growing roles of its Hispanic students, CWU will host a Latinx Welcome on Monday, October 8. The two-hour public celebration gets underway at 4:00 p.m. in the Student Union and Recreation Center Ballroom.

“This event is vital to our Latinx students,” said Miriam Bocchetti, director of the CWU College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) program. “They are a growing student population who do wonderful things on- and off-campus, and we want to accommodate their interests.”

Along with the available specialty appetizers, such as guacamole and queso, Buñelos, fruta tajin, and assorted aqua de Frescas, and scheduled festivities, including a music performance by the student-comprised CWU Mariachi Del Centro, Evangelina “Bengie” Aguilar will present the keynote remarks on the topic “Leadership: Your Future Depends on It.”

“We will have a really positive speaker address the students,” noted Bocchetti. “She is someone who inspires and offer students connections with their home communities and culture. She is someone who is aware and can acknowledge some of the transitions they are now going through.”

Aguilar added, “I want to inspire [students] to believe that they are the next leaders in their communities, the state, and the nation. There are so many people that would make excellent leaders but they get so busy. Even though their hearts tell them that they would make a difference if they served on that board, helped with that event, or ran for city council, life gets in the way. But, I believe, if your heart calls you to service, you should listen—it’s your responsibility to lead, no matter how busy you get.”

Aguilar is on staff with the Washington State Migrant Student Data and Recruitment Office in Sunnyside. She was also was an elected member of the Sunnyside City Council, and has volunteered on a wide range of boards, commissions, and community-service endeavors.

The ninth annual CWU event will also officially roll out the red carpet for new university Hispanic staff and faculty.

Bocchetti said, “By offering the students an opportunity to network, not just with each other, but with other staff and faculty with the same background it will open up even more opportunities for them while they’re here at Central. Having the other faculty and staff of color there points to the fact that our campus is wonderfully diverse and vibrant, and that’s important to the success of the event.”

The event is sponsored by the CWU LatinX Alumni Association in conjunction with the CWU Alumni Association, CWU Diversity and Equity Center, and CAMP.

“We want the students who attend this event to know that there are many programs and many people on this campus that have their best interests at heart and that are here to be of assistance,” Bocchetti pointed out. “If they need help, all they have to do is ask.”

Media contact: Robert Lowery, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, Robert.Lowery@cwu.edu