Conexiones Programs
End of Year Picnic 2010
On June 17, 2010, Conexiones sponsored an end-of-year picnic at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City, MD. Over 100 middle school and high school students from Hispanic student clubs across the county enjoyed a grand afternoon of futbol, food, and fun.
Café, Cultura, Y Mucho Azúcar
On October 16th, 2009 at Long Reach High School, Columbia MD, Conexiones celebrated Hispanic heritage during a special evening featuring a Fashion Show with talented students. The event raised more than $5000 that will be used to assist Hispanic students in Howard County complete high school and continue their education.
Scholarship Program
On May 19, 2010, Conexiones held our annual end-of-school-year Graduation Awards Convocation to provide competitive awards to graduating Hispanic high school students. The ceremony, at Long Reach High School, honored 49 Howard County students.
The 2009 Conexiones Scholarship Award ceremony was held at Long Reach High School on May 20th at 7:00 pm. See a complete list of the awardees from the event.
The 2008 scholarship awards ceremony was held on May 20, 2008. See a complete list of awardees pictures from the event.
(Photography by: Legacy Photography By Beverlee Barthel)
Stop and Live
In the spring of 2008, Conexiones and the Howard County Health Department—Tobacco Control Program, sponsored a stop smoking campaign. The campaign consisted of a student production outlining the dangers of tobacco use.
Hispanic Youth Symposium
Conexiones is a sponsor of the Hispanic Youth Symposium, held in July 2008. The Symposium invited students to spend four nights on the campus of Towson University to get a feel for college life. Daylong workshops offer advice in crafting a college application essay, applying for financial aid and winning scholarships.
"Our ultimate goal is to create the next generation of Hispanic professionals," said Idalia Fernandez, president of the Hispanic College Fund. "What we are doing is capturing young people at the right age to be able to get on a higher trajectory. At the end of the day, they will be aspiring for a career, rather than just a job after high school."
More than 200 students participated, including 43 from Howard County.
Student Clubs
In order to bolster student pride and alleviate feelings of isolation, for Hispanic students, CONEXICONES provides funding for clubs organized within the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). These clubs create a sense of community, celebrate Hispanic heritage and provide leadership experiences that students might otherwise not gain. Each club sponsor, typically a teacher or Hispanic Achievement Liaison, submits an operating plan to provide student enrichment activities during the course of the school year, along with a request for funding to achieve the plan.
LAPA (Latin American Parents Assns)
Getting parents involved in their children’s education is key to the academic success of all students. In address some of the specific challenges faced by Hispanic families, CONEXIONES helped established six chapters of LAPA at middle and high schools throughout Howard County. Through their meetings, parents have the opportunity to get to know other Hispanic parents and understand the roles they can play in their child’s education at home and at school. They participate in an environment that is both comfortable and familiar to them and become acquainted with school programs, policies and staff. The meetings also offer parents opportunities to further their own education. CONEXIONES facilitates these meetings, conducted in Spanish and focuses on questions that parents have, but are afraid to ask. CONEXIONES also offers information to parents about graduation requirements, college requirements, and supporting their child’s education