Kansas State University

17th Annual Midwest HALO Encuentro

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | FREE

The Hispanic American Leadership Organization at Kansas State University would like to invite you to this unique event. The goal of the Encuentro is to provide an environment where students can learn about the unexpected challenges they may encounter during their collegiate years, and how others before have overcome those challenges and attained their educational goals. It is also an educational tool that assists in Latino student identity development.

Registration

Registration for the Encuentro Leadership conference is FREE and now open for schools and organizations. Please use the link below to register.

> Registration (LINK)

Conference Schedule

Keynote Speakers: 

Lilia Flores	Miguel Ramos	Pamela Maynez

We are excited to host three former K-State HALO Presidents to serve as our keynote panelists for this year's Encuentro Conference. We are excited to hear about their journeys through higher education, the impact their cultural heritage had on their success, and learn about where they are now! 

Breakout Session Workshops:

• "HALO’s Survival Guide To College " - K-State HALO 

  • Going into college can be stressful but K-State's Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) is here to answer all your questions from the point of view of Hispanic students. In this sessions, students will get to have one on one discussions with HALO members about their experiences navigating college and learn some tips/tricks they've picked up along the way.

• "K-State Admissions 101" - K-State Office of Admissions & Recruitment

  • Connect with K-State Admissions as they share the many opportunities available at the university, answer questions you have about higher education, and everything you need to know about applying to be a Wildcat.

• "El Camino, From Bugs to Business - A Mexican's story leading a US agribusiness" - Cargill

  • Mariano Berdegue, Regional Managing Director for Cargill Animal Nutrition North America, shares his journey from growing up in Mazatlan to running an agribusiness in the United States. He will share how a degree in Entomology shaped the way he thinks, and what it’s like to be a Mexican man running a US-based business, and the importance of finding a company that aligns with your values and seeks different perspectives.  

• "Koch Overview & Career Paths" - Koch Industries

  • Participants will connect with Koch employees who will provide a brief Koch overview, talk about their personal career paths, and about different majors and how they connect to careers at Koch Industries.
• "Discovering and Cultivating Community Cultural Wealth" - Dr. Latania Marr y Ortega
  • This session will create a space for students to discover, reflect and discuss their individual power and the community cultural wealth of their communities. By having a clearer understanding of their identity and the collective strength of building community, participants will learn about ways that they can create a portfolio with confidence that will guide them as they achieve their college and career goals.
• "Generation Z Latina/o/x and the Health Professions" - Dr. Maria DePaoli
  • Becoming a health-care professional such as a doctor or a nurse is not the only way to work in these fields. The workshop will show students examples of al the many options available for heritage students in the areas of health and human services. Students will briefly discuss a couple of topics in groups before they participate in the general discussion. The session will close with a Kahoot containing the main points of the workshop. The winner of this Kahoot will get a book connected with the health professions.
• "Run For Something: Why You Should Run for Office" - Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
  • In this training, RFS National Press Secretary will provide an inside look at the world of electoral campaigns and dive into the reasons why young people should not only vote, but run for office. If you're frustrated by the state of government and finding solutions for the more pressing issues facing our country, come and learn more about how you can get involved. 
• "Si Podemos! Latinx and First-generation Students Belong in College" - Rebeca Paz & Melitza Ramirez

  • This interactive session will dismantle perceptions about college accessibility and ability to succeed in college for Latinx and first-generation students. Through shared stories and dialogue, we will unpack the value of a college education, its relation to our Latino and first-generation identities, and our place in the nation as the largest minoritized growing community.

• "Applying and Paying for College" - Dr. Cecilia Hernandez
  • This workshop presentation will assist students who have applied or are in the process of applying for college/university to help in identifying scholarships and other financial aid. Dr. Hernandez will walk through the process of finding and applying to specific programs, for scholarship money, and will give ideas about how to write scholarship essays.

Contact

Please direct any questions you might have to our Executive Director, Mirta Chavez at 785-532-6276 or mirta@k-state.edu or Program Administrator, Adam Carr at arcarr@k-state.edu.

DMSA will not provide Parking Passes for this event. Hotel and Transportation accomadations can be made by request to DMSA. Please know that support is not guaranteed and is dependent on funding availability.

Thank you to our sponsors: Kansas Department of Children and Families, Koch Industries, Cargill, K-State HALO, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

Connect with K-State HALO:

*Please note that photos may be taken throughout the day that may be used by Kansas State University or the Kansas Department of Children and Families publications. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.*