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Sunday, September 5, 2010 |
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Student-run group helps to shape leaders
Published July 29, 2010
Seguin High School students are learning to lead their peers through an organization that is aimed at helping them reach their goals.
The Seguin Leadership Initiative was created to give students, not a hand up, but a ladder that can take them to the top.
“What makes us unique from any other organization is this is all run by students,” said head coach of teams Edith Vargas. “When it was first started Sam (Ramos) and Rene (Moreno) were there to help us. Now it’s just kids like us running the program and Sam and Rene still step in to make sure we are not pulling each other’s hair.”
The goal of SLI is to prepare students for the endeavours in high school, college and their professional lives, said Moreno, SLI project administrator.
“We want to increase educational achievements for the students, leadership development, college preparation and matriculation, community awareness and involvement and a better awareness of the Latino culture,” he said.
The organization starts with incoming freshmen and works with them year-round throughout their high school career.
After a year of being in the program, the students then become the instructors and help with the newest class, Moreno said.
Currently, this group of ninth graders are preparing for the Texas Ambassador Great Debate hosted by the National Hispanic Institute at the University of Texas in Austin on July 29-Aug. 1, Moreno said.
“The program is set up as a debate program and our students are training in one of four categories — oratory, extemporaneous speaking, cross examination and mock trial,” he said. “They will be competing against approximately 150 other students from the Rio Grand Valley, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.”
Sophomores and juniors have the chance to prepare themselves for future roles in leadership at the LDZ (Lorenzo de Zavala) Youth Legislative Session, Moreno said.
As part of this opportunity, the students have a chance to participate in a mock government, Moreno said.
Juniors get to focus on their future and preparing for the processes of getting into colleges, Moreno said.
“Our junior students participate in a program we host locally called the college admissions program (CAPP) — that is specifically for our junior students headed into their senior year,” Moreno said.
The program guides the scholars through the different processes of going on to higher education, including admissions and scholarships.
Assistant project administrator Mandie Medina credited the program for her admission in the UT and a prestigious program within the university.
“Just applying to UT, I was able to get into the school that I wanted, which was Radio, Television and Film — I think it’s ranked third in the country,” she said. “I felt that I had a really strong resume because of the experience and the opportunities SLI gave me.”
Medina’s leadership skills came in handy her first year on campus.
“I ran for a position in my dorm and was elected to that position,” she said.
Vargas and her teammate head coach of individuals Maria Elena Gonzales agree that SLI helped to bring them to their fullest potential.
“I was a member of the band and after I started the SLI program that was when I started getting excited about being a leader in band and in the community,” Gonzales said. “Edith and I would not have been drum majors had it not been for SLI.”
The SLI was started in 2004 with half a dozen students.
Since, its membership has grown to more than 70 students working to build their leadership skills and about 30 collegiate alumni, Moreno said.
After graduating high school and the four-year course, the students have the opportunity to continue working with the students, Moreno said.
“They, in turn, come back and volunteer their time as trainers and are preparing them for the competition,” he said.
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