Sus Amigos Hosts Sixth Annual Banquet
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Sus Amigos is a bridge between Warsaw Community High School Latino students and the community, according to speakers at the sixth annual banquet Wednesday.
The banquet is held each year to recognize the participating students as well as their mentors and the local businesses that support them.
According to Darlene Fussle, English as a Second Language instructor and Sus Amigos mentoring program coordinator, five students participated in the program last year and 11 participated this year.
Fussle presented the vision and mission statements of Sus Amigos. The vision statement is "to create a foundation in order to expand the program so that Latino students are empowered to reach their full potential academically, socially and physically." The mission statement is that "the mentoring program provides opportunities for the Latino students to achieve more success in high school, become involved in the community and qualify for college through a work-related training class and professional job experiences."
In order to be a part of Sus Amigos, students must fill out an application and meet the criteria. They must have a good attendance record, 7.0 grade point average out of 12.0, necessary documentation to obtain work permit, three teacher references and work a minimum of 10 hours a week.
Students Lidia Arroyo and Rudy Nuno gave a Power Point¨ presentation designed by Edgar Becerra.
In their presentation, they said Sus Amigos supports success in the classroom and helps improve the rate of graduation. It provides additional training in job-related skills and bridges school work with work-place experiences.
Sus Amigos began in 1999 with a group of community volunteers who had a dream. They presented a plan for all Latino students at WCHS and Cardinal Center administrators. WCHS accepted and developed a mentoring program specifically for upper classmen. Cardinal Center obtained funding from area businesses and funders for the proposal.
In their presentation, Arroyo and Nuno said Sus Amigos helps Latino students adapt to the high school environment; build productive skills in the area of literacy, research, speaking and technology; access opportunities in area businesses; and assimilate into a new culture and a job market.
Life is full of bridges and Sus Amigos helps the students learn how to cross them, said Arroyo.
Several past and present Sus Amigos students spoke briefly on their experiences in the program.
Rosa Cervantes said she participated in Sus Amigos as a junior and senior. She worked at Farmer's State Bank and the radio station on the Latino show. "Sus Amigos is a very valuable program to the Latin American students," she said. If it wasn't for Sus Amigos, Cervantes said she wouldn't have the confidence to work at either the bank or the radio station.
Everardo Rico currently attends Grace College part time and works at DePuy. Sus Amigos helped him land the job at DePuy, he said. "Sus Amigos was a positive experience for me." He encouraged other students to join the Sus Amigos mentoring program.
A junior at WCHS, Cyntia Lozano is a bank teller at Lake City Bank. At one time, she said she felt powerless in her life but that changed with Sus Amigos. She not only learned on-the-job skills but also learned what she is good at - numbers and organizing. In turn, she realizes she must be responsible and a role model to others.
A teacher at WCHS for almost 20 years, Chris Foster said she taught more than 5,000 students and one thing she knows is that each student comes with their own baggage. Some already fit into society, others are struggling.
"What all these students have in common is their right to a quality education that leaves no child behind and that is our mission in the Warsaw Schools, but it is a task we as educators can not accomplish alone.
"Over the last several years we have experienced a growing population of non-native speakers who offer a challenge and a unique opportunity for our staff. What I have found is that these students are people with the same needs that all people in our community have.
"My students who are English Language Learners have the same goal as my native speakers - to graduate, go to college and land a great job. All my students have unique talents that they want to expand."
This year's students participating in Sus Amigos were recognized and include Cervantes, Francisco Gonzalez, Joshua Lainez, Ari Sandy Velazquez, Yesenia Giron, Cinthia Centeno, Grace Gomez, Esther Guaracha, Nuno, Arroyo and Lozano.
Ace Hardware, First Steps Healthy Families Cardinal Center, Bowen Center, Lake City Bank, Miller's Merry Manor and National City Bank were recognized for bridging the gap between the community and the students by providing the students with employment. For being funders, Hand Family Foundation, K21 Foundation, United Way, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and the city of Warsaw, Kosciusko County government and Zimmer Inc. were honored. Zimmer also provided the banquet meal. Randy Hall, Cardinal Center, recognized Ray Monteith for providing the building for Sus Amigos, North Detroit Street. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Sus Amigos is a bridge between Warsaw Community High School Latino students and the community, according to speakers at the sixth annual banquet Wednesday.
The banquet is held each year to recognize the participating students as well as their mentors and the local businesses that support them.
According to Darlene Fussle, English as a Second Language instructor and Sus Amigos mentoring program coordinator, five students participated in the program last year and 11 participated this year.
Fussle presented the vision and mission statements of Sus Amigos. The vision statement is "to create a foundation in order to expand the program so that Latino students are empowered to reach their full potential academically, socially and physically." The mission statement is that "the mentoring program provides opportunities for the Latino students to achieve more success in high school, become involved in the community and qualify for college through a work-related training class and professional job experiences."
In order to be a part of Sus Amigos, students must fill out an application and meet the criteria. They must have a good attendance record, 7.0 grade point average out of 12.0, necessary documentation to obtain work permit, three teacher references and work a minimum of 10 hours a week.
Students Lidia Arroyo and Rudy Nuno gave a Power Point¨ presentation designed by Edgar Becerra.
In their presentation, they said Sus Amigos supports success in the classroom and helps improve the rate of graduation. It provides additional training in job-related skills and bridges school work with work-place experiences.
Sus Amigos began in 1999 with a group of community volunteers who had a dream. They presented a plan for all Latino students at WCHS and Cardinal Center administrators. WCHS accepted and developed a mentoring program specifically for upper classmen. Cardinal Center obtained funding from area businesses and funders for the proposal.
In their presentation, Arroyo and Nuno said Sus Amigos helps Latino students adapt to the high school environment; build productive skills in the area of literacy, research, speaking and technology; access opportunities in area businesses; and assimilate into a new culture and a job market.
Life is full of bridges and Sus Amigos helps the students learn how to cross them, said Arroyo.
Several past and present Sus Amigos students spoke briefly on their experiences in the program.
Rosa Cervantes said she participated in Sus Amigos as a junior and senior. She worked at Farmer's State Bank and the radio station on the Latino show. "Sus Amigos is a very valuable program to the Latin American students," she said. If it wasn't for Sus Amigos, Cervantes said she wouldn't have the confidence to work at either the bank or the radio station.
Everardo Rico currently attends Grace College part time and works at DePuy. Sus Amigos helped him land the job at DePuy, he said. "Sus Amigos was a positive experience for me." He encouraged other students to join the Sus Amigos mentoring program.
A junior at WCHS, Cyntia Lozano is a bank teller at Lake City Bank. At one time, she said she felt powerless in her life but that changed with Sus Amigos. She not only learned on-the-job skills but also learned what she is good at - numbers and organizing. In turn, she realizes she must be responsible and a role model to others.
A teacher at WCHS for almost 20 years, Chris Foster said she taught more than 5,000 students and one thing she knows is that each student comes with their own baggage. Some already fit into society, others are struggling.
"What all these students have in common is their right to a quality education that leaves no child behind and that is our mission in the Warsaw Schools, but it is a task we as educators can not accomplish alone.
"Over the last several years we have experienced a growing population of non-native speakers who offer a challenge and a unique opportunity for our staff. What I have found is that these students are people with the same needs that all people in our community have.
"My students who are English Language Learners have the same goal as my native speakers - to graduate, go to college and land a great job. All my students have unique talents that they want to expand."
This year's students participating in Sus Amigos were recognized and include Cervantes, Francisco Gonzalez, Joshua Lainez, Ari Sandy Velazquez, Yesenia Giron, Cinthia Centeno, Grace Gomez, Esther Guaracha, Nuno, Arroyo and Lozano.
Ace Hardware, First Steps Healthy Families Cardinal Center, Bowen Center, Lake City Bank, Miller's Merry Manor and National City Bank were recognized for bridging the gap between the community and the students by providing the students with employment. For being funders, Hand Family Foundation, K21 Foundation, United Way, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and the city of Warsaw, Kosciusko County government and Zimmer Inc. were honored. Zimmer also provided the banquet meal. Randy Hall, Cardinal Center, recognized Ray Monteith for providing the building for Sus Amigos, North Detroit Street. [[In-content Ad]]