At the heart of the 2025 Rising Together Student Leadership Conference was Cindy Cholico, Assistant Director of the Migrant Education Program at ESD 105.
We connected with Ms. Cholico to learn more about the vision behind the conference, the impact on students, and why creating spaces like this is essential for the future of our health and communities.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this program and why it seemed like a great fit to bring these students to PNWU for this experience?
Great question! We have been hosting this conference for five years now. Our team wanted to create a space where migrant students could come together to learn about leadership and what success looks like for them.
We know success can take many different paths—we never say that college is the only way. Instead, we want to help students discover what inspires them while also connecting them with mentors who share similar backgrounds. Seeing people who look like them and learning from their journeys — asking, “How did you do it? What did it take for you?” — is incredibly powerful.
What started as a small gathering of about 40 students has grown tremendously. Today, we welcomed over 240 students, which is so exciting.
In the beginning, we struggled to find a location that truly reflected the inspiration we wanted to create. We knew we wanted something local — somewhere students could see themselves—and that’s when we connected with Michelle at PNWU. After talking with her, it was clear that the university aligned perfectly with our mission.
Once we brought the conference here, I realized how many amazing programs and services were available — things I wasn’t even aware of before. The students absolutely love being on campus. You can see their energy when they walk in — they think it’s really cool!
They also get to learn about so many different programs and opportunities. That’s what really inspired this connection — we saw the potential impact on our students. And who knows? Maybe one day, some of them will attend PNWU themselves. If we can inspire even one student to pursue their passion, it makes everything worthwhile.
This ties into a larger conversation happening nationally about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensuring that underrepresented groups feel like they belong in higher education. How have you seen students — whether this year or in past years — react to what might be their first time seeing an open door to a future as something like a physician or a dentist?
We’ve seen so many students have those aha moments.
A big part of that is because of the Migrant Voice Society, which is the student-led group that has been helping us plan this event. That’s actually why we’re wearing these shirts today — one of our students designed them!
While our ESD 105 Migrant Education team could have planned the event on our own, we knew that to make it truly impactful, it had to reflect the students’ voices. So, over the past year, we had students and staff meet monthly to plan every detail. The students selected the theme, the food, and the content they wanted to learn about. It was all student-driven, which made the experience even more meaningful.
Beyond that, we’ve worked hard to ensure all students feel represented. Many people hear the word “migrant” and assume it only refers to immigrant students, but that’s not the case. Our students come from various backgrounds, including Native American communities with deep ties to berry picking, fishing, and other cultural traditions, as well as families engaged in seasonal agricultural work. These experiences qualify them for the Migrant Education Program. We are committed to uniting and supporting all these communities while honoring their heritage and livelihoods.
There are so many barriers migrant students face — moving frequently, missing out on summer school due to work responsibilities, and more. Our goal is to bridge those gaps and make sure they know that opportunities exist for them no matter where they are.
Today was about giving them valuable information that they can take back and share with their peers and the educators who support them. The staff who brought them here play a huge role as well. They help advocate for students who may be too shy to voice their struggles. Some students, for example, have asked for more resources on mental health or healthy relationships. Having these conversations ensures that their needs are met.
For many students, this might be their first time visiting PNWU or even hearing about it. After working closely with them over the years, what kinds of reactions have you seen when they learn that programs like this exist, especially right here in Yakima?
So far, they’ve been really excited!
For many of them, this is the first time they’re seeing a space that feels welcoming and full of opportunity. Last year, they loved the campus tours and learning about different programs. Many of them had never even heard of PNWU before attending this event, so just knowing that a university like this exists — and that it actively supports students like them — is eye-opening.
Some students are interested in health sciences, and we’ve had great conversations about how to keep them engaged beyond this one event. Michelle Alegria (who manages PNWU’s Master of Arts in medical Sciences [MAMS] program) and I have talked about ways to continue this partnership because we don’t want this to be a “one and done” experience.
One of the best things about our program is that we help students overcome barriers now, so they can start envisioning their future early on.
If they’re interested in attending PNWU, how do we help them prepare? What resources can we provide? We also work closely with school districts to advocate for opportunities—whether that’s through campus visits, mentorship, or other initiatives. While students often take college tours outside the area, we want to make sure they know what’s available here first.
Looking ahead, what do you hope this event becomes, for both the students who participate and the future of the program itself?
I hope we continue to grow! With the new building on campus, maybe next year we can expand and host even more students.
Most importantly, I want these students to know that their dreams are possible. Whether they want to become doctors, dentists, or anything else, there is a space for them here. They have support, they have resources, and they have a community that believes in them.
We also want them to see themselves as leaders. Many young people are hesitant to speak up, meet new people, or step outside their comfort zone. But when they experience this kind of environment — where they’re encouraged to do those things — they realize how strong and capable they are.
In previous years, we’ve had students who attended our conferences go on to achieve incredible things. One young woman, for example, earned a full-ride scholarship after attending a similar event. She’s now becoming a teacher and is currently working as a paraeducator at the same school she graduated from. Her story is just one example of what’s possible.
If we can continue providing these opportunities, our students will absolutely soar.
PNWU’s mission is to train students from underserved communities so that they can return and make meaningful changes in those same communities. From your perspective, why is it so important to provide opportunities for students from often-overlooked backgrounds to step into leadership roles?
One thing I love about our program is that we don’t just focus on students—we engage their families as well. The school districts do an amazing job of building relationships with parents, and we try to support them as much as possible.
Sometimes, families don’t know about the resources available to them. They want their kids to succeed, but they don’t always know how to navigate the system. That’s where we come in. Unfortunately, many students from underserved backgrounds don’t feel seen or heard, but programs like migrant education work hard to change that.
By providing opportunities at both the school and community level, we empower students and their families. When parents are informed and engaged, students thrive.
We also have a parent conference coming up that mirrors what we do for students, because when parents and students both understand what’s possible, they go home with a shared vision for success.
These students already have so many strengths. They just need the right resources to help them step into their full potential.
Anything else you’d like to add?
A huge thank you to our incredible team at ESD 105 and MEP, as well as the school districts, volunteers, vendors, and presenters who made this event possible.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to PNWU and give a heartfelt shoutout to Michelle Alegria and Sierra Burton for their outstanding support. Special thanks to PNWU President Robbyn R. Wacker for welcoming our students to campus.
Claudia Figueroa Dominguez, our coordinator, was the heart of this event, keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring its success. Also, our director, Cynthia Juarez, whose leadership allowed us to innovate and expand this program.
This was indeed a team effort, and we couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you!