Latino & Latin American Space for Enrichment and Research (LASER) Mentoring Program Purpose The Ohio State LASER High School Mentoring Ohio State Colleges/Units Involved Program prepares Latino students in Columbus-area Office of Diversity and Inclusion high schools for successful admission to Ohio State Department of Spanish and and elsewhere. Portuguese

Undergraduate student mentors meet weekly with Community Partners Involved high school mentees for academic coaching and Centennial High School college planning. Workshops and events integrate Central Crossing High School Latino students and their families into a network Columbus Downtown High School of professionals and information resources to help Columbus International High School students successfully navigate college admission Columbus State Community College and financial aid. Dublin Jerome High School Dublin Coffman High School Impact Dublin Scioto High School Beginning with two mentors and three mentees in Hamilton Township High School Spring 2012, LASER currently supports 80 mentoring Hayes High School pairs, including students from 24 area high schools. Hilliard Davidson High School Orange High School LASER is expanding the number of Ohio Latino Pickerington High School North applicants to Ohio State and other area colleges and South-Western Career Academy universities, and raising awareness of Latino talent The Charles School at pools among Ohio State personnel. Ohio Dominican University Thomas Worthington High School “[My mentor] reviewed numerous essays I wrote Walnut Ridge High School for college applications … suggested scholarships, Westerville South High School helped in raising my ACT score from a 26 to a 30, Westland High School aided in my successful admission.” --MSP Distinction Whitehall-Yearling High School Scholar

Contact

Frederick Aldama Arts and Humanities Distinguished Professor of English Office of Diversity and Inclusion [email protected] laser.osu.edu

2014 Emerging Community Engagement Award