Mentorship opportunity for immigrant students

I am a huge fan of mentorship for first generation and low income college students, both being a mentor and having a mentor. There is so much to be gained from sharing your lived experience and guidance with someone else that is ridiculously rewarding for everyone involved.

So for all the immigrant students (including undocumented students) out there, here is an exciting opportunity to be mentor to another immigrant student or be mentored by one, brought to you by Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC):

E4FC’s National Mentor Network provides immigrant students opportunities to share their experiences, offer guidance, and support one another. The National Mentor Network is open to immigrant students nationwide.

Photo credit: http://e4fc.org/home.html

One of the main challenges facing college-bound immigrant students is finding other students who can answer questions and give guidance. Resources and guides cannot replace the power and inspiration of meeting other immigrant students who, in the face of overwhelming challenges, are also pursuing college. The goal of our National Mentor Network is to help immigrant students build a safe, supportive, and informed community.

To be a mentor or be mentored through E4FC’s National Mentor Network, all you have to do is fill out a brief, anonymous profile questionnaire, get an email confirmation, and wait for a follow-up phone call. That's it!

If you have any questions about this mentorship opportunity, please contact Jose Arreola, the E4FC Student Outreach Coordinator. Happy mentoring!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Scholarship opportunity for Chicano/Latino students!

Here is a great scholarship opportunity for all my Chicano/Latino first generation and low income college students out there:

The Hispanic College Fund announces the opening of its scholarship applications! Applications will be available online from Nov. 15, 2010 to March 1, 2011 at www.scholarships.hispanicfund.org. Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000 and will be awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year.

To be eligible to apply, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be of Hispanic background 
• Maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale)
• Have graduated from high school in the U.S. after attending at least 3 years 
• Reside in the U.S. or Puerto Rico (This includes undocumented students also!)
• Plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate, and in some cases graduate, program for the 2011-2012 academic year at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
• Demonstrate financial need 
• And some scholarship programs may have additional eligibility requirements, too

 If you have any questions about this scholarship opportunity, please contact Monica Raugitinane or visit the The Hispanic College Fund website.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Dream Act

A dear friend of mine shared this article about undocumented college students. It's on the long side, but worth the read. In addition to the usual issues faced by first generation and low income college students, undocumented college students also face a number of other well-founded fears, including deportation.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act, offers a glimmer of hope to future undocumented students by providing a path to citizenship. For current students, only a handful of states offer options.

Photo credit: http://www.longislandwins.com

If you are an undocumented college student or care about someone who is, here are a few resources:

• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
• National Council of La Raza Resource Guide
• Financial Aid and Scholarships for Undocumented Students
• National Immigration Law Center

Only reveal your undocumented status to trusted advisors and don't be afraid to get involved in the movement to make the DREAM Act a reality.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.