Source: Jose Uriel Estrada, jestrada@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Sheila Ellis, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Tuesday, September 25 2007
Hispanic Heritage Month:
K-STATE STUDENT FROM SOUTHWEST KANSAS LEADS UNIVERSITY'S HISPANIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION
MANHATTAN -- Jose Uriel Estrada is excited about leading the new generation of Hispanic students at Kansas State University.
The senior in secondary education, Liberal, was voted K-State's Hispanic American Leadership Organization president for the 2007-2008 academic school year.
Estrada and his parents, Effrain and Imelda Estrada, migrated to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 5. Growing up in a rural area of southwest Kansas and graduating from Hugoton High School, Estrada said he was ready to go to a school on a big campus. He said he chose K-State because of the beautiful campus and friendliness of the faculty, staff and students.
Multicultural student enrollment at K-State is at an all-time high this school year with 675 Hispanic and Mexican American students. Estrada said he plans to accommodate this number and encourages Hispanic students to use the Hispanic American Leadership Organization as a support group.
His three main objectives for the organization this school year are academics, community service and promoting cultural diversity.
"As a Latino transfer student from Seward County Community College, he understands the difficulties in adjusting to the university atmosphere and being away from family and home," said Anita Cortez, director of K-State's Developing Scholars Program.
Along with his full class load and Hispanic American Leadership Organization duties, Estrada is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity and the Developing Scholars Program. The program pairs underrepresented students with faculty mentors to conduct undergraduate research. Program participants receive academic, social and financial support while participating in the discovery and creation of new knowledge at K-State.
Estrada also is a multicultural ambassador for the K-State admissions office, where he volunteers his time on diversity panels and helps with K-State's Junior and Senior Days. He also gives campus tours, sometimes in Spanish.
He said being an ambassador makes him more aware of the needs of multicultural students and helps him with his leadership role in the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, which helps organize K-State's Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
Cortez describes Estrada's attitude as a "si, se puede" or a "yes, we can" one.
"I see Uriel as someone who can bring students to a common ground for the betterment of HALO," Cortez said. "He is hard-working and reliable, and is someone who will follow through. He is a very good mentor for new Latino students on campus."
Estrada wants to be a chemistry or biology teacher in southwest Kansas after he graduates.