The University Alliance, a partnership between UGA and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, has awarded
10 University Alliance Grants for the 2008-2009 academic year.
The grants, ranging from $3,000 to $9,835, will support outreach, recruitment and retention projects by academic professionals, academic and public service faculty members, and UGA student organizations.
Funded projects include activities and programs to increase student academic preparedness at the middle school and high school levels, a program to increase science awareness and preparedness for middle school students, a program to recruit and teach high school students about opportunities in journalism and a middle school program designed to explore cultural affirmation to facilitate academic achievement and parental involvement.
“Our partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has expanded the university’s reach into a growing segment of our community,” said Art Dunning, vice president for public service and outreach. “I am pleased we are able to provide support to academic units, public service faculty and UGA student organizations who want to create academic opportunities for Latino students.”
“We are excited about the variety of programs we have been able to fund and feel confident that the work funded by these grants will positively impact our goal of increased outreach to, and recruitment and retention of, Latino students,” said Alejandra Rincón, HSF’s national director for university alliances.
The 2008-2009 University Alliance grant recipients, their units and projects are:
• Sergio Quesada-Aldana, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute, “Affirmation of Cultural Identity: A Pilot Program with W.R. Coile Middle School Hispanic Students;”
• Ron Walcott, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Office of Academic Affairs), “Recruiting Hispanic Students from Hall County and Gainesville State College to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences;”
• Celina Correa, Hispanic Student Association, Intercultural Affairs, Student Affairs, “Noche Latina;”
• Melissa Garber and Tina Venus, Academic Enhancement, “Workshop Series on College Success for UGA Latino Students;”
• Joseph Dennis, journalism, “Latino Journalist Development Project;”
• David Gutierrez, Students for Latin@ Empowerment, Intercultural Affairs, Student Affairs, “¡Sígueme! Latino Shadow Day at UGA;”
• Jheison Romain, Students for Latin@ Empowerment, Intercultural Affairs, Student Affairs, “¡Si, Se Puede!”
• Paul Matthews and Paula Mellom, Center for Latino Achievement and Success and Education, “Increasing Academic Preparedness and Enhancing Outreach of Latino High Schoolers;”
• Martha Allexsaht-Snider and Cory Buxton, elementary and social studies education, “Steps to College: BHL to UGA Through Science;” and
• Daniel Bivins and Carolina
Darbisi, Fanning Institute, “Sueños Grandes.”