It was a proud moment for the families of 40 Vanguard University (VU) students who were invited to campus to celebrate their students’ achievements in completing the Latina/o Leadership and Identity program their first semester. This course was created for first-generation students to develop a community, receive mentorship from faculty and embrace their cultural identity and leadership potential, setting them up for success throughout college and beyond.
At the heart of the program is the newly appointed director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, Celina Canales, M.A. Since starting, she has been focused on restructuring the curriculum to create an even stronger launch pad and support system for incoming students. Los Angeles Times’ Daily Pilot joined the students, their families and faculty to commemorate the students’ accomplishments and hear powerful testimonials from alumni of the program.
