On Wednesday, March 13, PNWU hosted the Rising Together Student Leadership Conference.
A collaboration of Educational Service District (ESD) 105 and PNWU’s Service and Social Engagement Committee, the event welcomed over 150 high school-age students from throughout the State of Washington to the university’s health sciences campus for an immersive look at our mission and health sciences programs.
“Seeing all the underrepresented Latino students have an experience like this was truly an amazing feeling,” said MAMS Program Manager Michelle Allegria. “Our ESD 105 community partners are doing an amazing job shaping our leaders of tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more proud to have helped with this event.”
Authorized under Part C of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, the conference was a part of the Migrant Education Program, which is federally funded to ensure high-quality education programs and supplemental support services for migratory children.
Featuring a series of workshops and presentations, the conference aimed to provide a space for migrant students to come together, share experiences, and leave feeling empowered. Speakers focused on topics like art therapy, cultivating healthy relationships, daily mindfulness, and more. Program representatives explained that migratory families often have trouble receiving continuous, high-quality educational services because of their high rate of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, health-related problems, disruption of their children’s education, and the lack of resources in the areas in which they live and work.
Michon Mancell, administrative coordinator in PNWU’s School of Physical Therapy, credits efficient coordination by the ESD staff and external entities, as well as the collaborative efforts of PNWU staff and utilization of our facilities, for the empowering campus event, which featured 10 school districts (East Valley, Grandview, Highland, Mabton, Selah, Wahluke, Wapato, White Swan/Mt. Adams, Yakama Nation Tribal School, and Yakima School District), 33 volunteers, 32 chaperones, and 38 venders/presenters/interpreters.
“Events like this remind our community that we are here,” said Mancell, “allowing us to showcase our beautiful campus and the academic and local offerings PNWU provides.”
Allegria agreed, adding: “This helps to open up the minds of young students who have never been exposed to an environment such as PNWU. Students stepped out of their comfort zones and took leaps of faith to be there that day, sitting in the seats of future doctors, exploring our campus, and opening their eyes to their own limitless potential, and their place at PNWU.”
Following the experience, conference participants shared the following feedback on their time at PNWU:
The students could relate to the speakers. Most students feel that they are the only ones going through their struggle. When they realize they are not alone, it makes them think about their future.
From a parent volunteer: I can’t help but think of how these types of conferences may have changed the trajectory in my life if someone had asked me to participate as a youth. It may have instilled in me a level of confidence and ambition to pursue greater things.
Los tures que asen son muy geniales y te ensenan sobre enfermeria y construccion. (The tours you take are very cool and teach you about nursing and construction.)
The community was welcoming and felt like family.
I loved the bonding the students had with one another, and their interaction, whether it be in a session or during the lunch break.
I loved it. It was a great learning experience and a great way to get out of your bubble.