20110908_oru_hispanic_summit
Oral Roberts University hosts National Hispanic Education Summit
Oral Roberts University, in conjunction with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), will host the Hispanic Alliance Education Summit on September 14.
The Hispanic Alliance Education Summit will highlight academic challenges faced by Latinos and education providers, in addition to strategies and ideas that will be presented to attending pastors, church leaders, academic administrators and educators in a effort to facilitate an upward curve of academic success in the Hispanic community.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the NHCLC, said, "We encourage Christian college and university leaders, and key Hispanic ministry, business and education leaders to join us in this revolutionary initiative which is shaping the future of education within the Hispanic community."
"As the senior education partner for the NHCLC, Oral Roberts University is proud to host the Hispanic Alliance Education Summit," said ORU President Dr. Mark Rutland. "The Hispanic community is a vital and growing piece of the fabric of America. Improving the high school graduation rates for Latino students and finding avenues for them to receive a college degree is crucial. While attaining a college education is a sacrifice, Hispanic families and the entire Hispanic community, indeed America at large will benefit in the long run."
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and their partnering Christian universities believe that Christian schools and organizations can be the catalyst for a national Hispanic movement - ensuring that young Latinos can achieve the American dream.
"Hosting the Hispanic Alliance Education Summit is a great fit for Oral Roberts University," said Dr. Daniel Guajardo, dean of student development director of the ORU Hispanic Center. "ORU has been a front-runner in reaching out to this community with a new Hispanic Center that was open last year to help serve Latino students and their parents. It is important for us to identify challenges, strategies, and solutions to increasing the number of Hispanic college students. This outstanding assembly of pastors, church leaders, academic administrators, and educators will make great strides toward impacting the drop-out statistics for the betterment of our nation."