VOLUME VII ISSUE 1 JULY 2009

CONEXIONES OF HOWARD COUNTY Conexiones Honors Students INSIDE THIS ISSUE: At the 2009 Hispanic and cash award made possible Conexiones President Feli In Their Own 2 Student Achievement Awards by donations to Conexiones. Solá-Carter told the gathering, Words ceremony held May 20 at Long Conexiones founder and “We have a phenomenal group Reach High School, 37 sharply President Emeritus Dr. Murray of students on stage, a small Population 3 dressed students filled the audi- Simon welcomed county Ex- representation of the almost Shift torium stage. The room bus- ecutive Ken Ulman, the Con- 3,000 Hispanic students in tled with their families and exiones board, family mem- Howard County.” Thank You, 3 friends, representatives of the bers, and honorees. Long Reach Principal Ed- Educators county school system, and “You are a living example mund Evans spoke next. “It’s a Conexiones members. of the mission and vision of privilege for our school to host Sotomayor 4 The graduating seniors Conexiones,” said Simon. You this ceremony.” Nominated were recognized for academic also honor those on whose Evans explained that Long excellence, overcoming chal- shoulders you stand. You in- Reach has a rich heritage as the Your Contri- 4 lenges, and community leader- spire those who come after most multi-racial, multi-ethnic, butions at ship. Each received a plaque you.” socio-economic school in Howard County. List of 5 “We wish you well for Awardees your next steps into the fu- ture,” he told the awardees. Student 7-8 “Your high school accomplish- Essays ments are but a beginning. Continue to set your sights high.” Howard County Executive Ken Ulman congratulated the students, and thanked their families for supporting their efforts. 2008-2009 Officers continued on page 2 President Congratulations to all 2009 Graduates! Feli Solá-Carter

Vice-President Roger J. Lerner Message from the President Treasurer Neta Warren Traditionally, the best event of our year at Conexiones is the Graduation Awards Secretary Convocation. This year we celebrated the accomplishments of thirty-seven talented Teresa Rojas students on the basis of academic achievement, community service, leadership, and overcoming obstacles. As we rejoice in their success, we renew our commitment to advocate for all Hispanic students, so that in 2010 we may celebrate the accomplishments of many more. Submit story ideas and comments to -Feli Solá-Carter [email protected] PAGE 2 Awards Ceremony

continued from page 1 “And continue your edu- speech was delivered by honor members of the Howard cation, your service to the Katryna Segovia, a biomedical County community. The Dr. “It’s the obstacles community,” said Ulman. “We engineer at the U.S. Army Re- Henry P. Rosas Memorial expect great things from you search Laboratory. Segovia Award was established by the you overcome that and I hope in a few years, one described her own struggles to family of the surgeon, a deco- of you will be running for my succeed as she encouraged the rated Vietnam veteran. It hon- shape you as an job.” awardees to continue working ors his selfless contributions Howard County Public toward their goals. and lifelong interest in those individual and leader School System Chief of Staff “I have learned the value who must struggle to succeed. Mamie Perkins also congratu- of persistence, of hard work, The Feli Solá-Carter Lead- of our community.” lated the students and their and most of all the importance ership Award was established families. She brought with her of family,” she said. “I know -Katryna Segovia. by Solá-Carter’s colleagues at Adejira Bademosi, a student how fortunate I am to have the Social Security Administra- member of the Howard been given many opportunities tion upon her retirement after County Board of Education. to learn and succeed. And now 37 years of service. It honors The first personal essay, it is my turn to work hard at her commitment to community by Maria Valencia of Mt. Heb- opening doors of opportunity leadership. ron High School, was a moving for others.” Awardee and Reservoir tribute to her mother, and ex- Segovia’s perseverance High School senior Amanda plained the obstacles the young helped her earn a bachelor’s Palmer read her personal essay woman faced on her way to degree from the University of on how service to others helped graduating from high school. ’s College of Engi- her realize her own strengths. As audience members blinked neering and a master’s from Honoree Yeni Perez, of back tears, her fellow class- The Johns Hopkins University. Oakland Mills High school, mates gave her a standing ova- Conexiones board mem- provided the evening’s musical tion. ber David Rodriguez presented interlude, playing the clarinet. The evening’s keynote the awards, including two that In Their Own Words “With a college education, I can These are the students Conexiones helps to realize their dreams: hardworking, intelligent, courageous. They are working toward careers in medicine, psychology, journalism, educa- conduct the re- tion, architecture, engineering, business, law, graphic design, science, and theater, and search that could we have every reason to believe they will succeed. end up saving lives.” “I like to be able to show people that they “Debes desear lo que - Yajaira Berna are wrong and that amas y debes amar lo anyone can do anything they want to as long as que deseas" they believe they can.” -Maria Valencia -Marco Romero “I believe that minority students in par- ticular may not believe they can excel or may be prone to feeling inferior “Yes, I often feel like I am stuck based on negative biases towards them. between one home and an- I would like to show them they can do other; however, in this place, I anything they put their hearts into, and have transcended all things old that they should feel proud.” to become something new.” -Ivana Cusick -Chloe Heckman

www.conexioneshc.org VOLUME VII ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

Study Shows Shift in Young Hispanic Population According to a new study, study authors found that typi- peak, while the share of Hispanic children who are third a majority of the Hispanic chil- cally, that parent came to this generation or higher will begin to rise in the coming dec- dren in the United States were country in the immigration ade. born here to parents who immi- wave from Mexico, Central The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2025, nearly grated from elsewhere. The America, and South America three-in-ten children in this country will be of Latino an- report, released by the Pew His- that began around 1980. cestry. panic Center May 28, describes Some 11 percent of Latino a shift in U.S. demographics: children are “first genera- twenty-two percent of all chil- tion”—meaning they them- dren in the United States under selves are foreign-born. And 37 age 18 are Hispanic—up from percent are “third generation or just 9 percent in 1980. higher”—meaning they are the A majority (52 percent) of U.S.-born children of U.S.-born these 16 million Hispanic chil- parents. dren are now “second genera- Pew Hispanic Center re- tion,” meaning they were born search indicates that the share in the United States to at least of Hispanic children who are one foreign-born parent. The second generation will soon

Thank You, Educators!

The Maryland educational community was well-represented at the 2009 Awards Ceremony. Conexiones would like to extend a special thank you to those who were able to attend and show their support for our exceptional students.

Ms. Ruby Stemmle, Executive Director, Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, representing Governor Martin O’Malley. Mr. Guy Guzzone, Maryland State Delegate Mr. Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball, Howard County Council Member

From the Howard County Board of Education Ms. Sandra H. French Ms. Adejira Bademosi, Student Member

From the Howard County Public School System: Dr. Sydney Cousin, Superintendent Ms. Mamie Perkins, Chief of Staff Dr. Teresa Alban, Chief Operating Officer Ms. Linda Wise, Chief Academic Officer Ms. Sue Mascaro, Director, Staff Relations Ms. Diane Martin, Director, Office of Student, Family, and Community Services Mr. Edmund Evans, Principal, Long Reach High School Ms. Elisa Montalvo, Hispanic Achievement Specialist

www.conexioneshc.org PAGE 4 Sotomayor Nominated to Supreme Court “My hope is that I

will take the good On May 26, President announcement. reach out for remedial help. Barack Obama announced Sotomayor was born in Four years later she won from my experi- he was nominating U.S. the Bronx, N.Y., to Puerto the Pyne Prize, the highest Court of Appeals Judge Rican parents. When she was honor awarded an under- ences and extrapo- Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. just eight years old, she was graduate at Princeton, and Supreme Court. diagnosed with diabetes. A graduated summa cum laude. late them further If confirmed by Con- year later, her father passed She then attended Yale Law gress, she would become the away leaving her mother to School and earned a coveted into areas with first Hispanic—and the third care for Sonia and her position as an editor of the woman—named to the younger brother Juan, who is Yale Law Journal. which I am court. now a doctor. Sotomayor was a “She has never forgot- During her first year at prosecutor with the Man- unfamiliar.” ten where she began, never Princeton University, a low hattan District Attorney's lost touch with the commu- grade on one of her first office for five years before -Sonia Sotomayor nity that supported her," assignments convinced So- going into private practice. Obama said during the tomayor that she needed to While still in her 30s, she Continued on page 6

Club Corner . . . a sampling of club activities

The Howard High School Hispanic Club club members hosted went on field trips to the Mexican Em- talks by a pilot, corporate executive, female engi- Thanks to your bassy, the Gala Hispanic Theatre, and neer, and police officer (Conexiones board mem- membership, the Holocaust Museum. ber and Multi-Cultural Liaison for the Howard They volunteered for the Salvation County Police Department, Alan Shaffer). Conexiones is able Army’s Adopt-a-Family program; baby- Club coordinator: Lety Jiménez to support Hispanic sat during parent/teacher conferences The Hispanic student club at student clubs at Phelps Luck Elementary School; sup- hosted a Hispanic Cultural Night that featured throughout Howard ported the Empty Bowl Dinner hunger- music, flamenco dancers, and Hispanic food. County. awareness fundraiser; and raised Club coordinator: Aracelis Virella $1,550 in the American Cancer Soci- ety’s Relay for Life (more than doubling For Hispanic Heritage Month, the Atholton club their goal of $750). put together a display called “My Face,” highlight- ing aspects of members’ heritage and culture. Club coordinator: Nicola Hildredth Club coordinator: Mary Coates

Despite some dreary weather, members of Your support makes a difference! Howard High School’s Los Leones raised Send your donations and dues to: $1,550 for cancer research. Conexiones of Howard County P.O. Box 6997 Columbia, MD 21045

www.conexioneshc.org Congratulations Awardees!

Valentina Alarcon Wilde Lake Roberto Aleman Hammond Dair Azuaje Long Reach Yajaira Berna Reservoir Julian Borelli Hammond Odwar Calderon Reservoir Kathia Castillo Long Reach Benjamin Cidre Reservoir Ivana Cusick Howard Lauren DePalma Marriotts Ridge Darwin Duarte Oakland Mills Kevin Garcia Wilde Lake Jonas Giron Wilde Lake Alaric Goth Mt. Hebron Daniela Guzman-Ramos Reservoir Chloe Heckman Centennial Eli Hernstadt Centennial Heather Kestler Oakland Mills Abigail Magalee Howard Jorge Marquez Glenelg Liz Martinez Mt. Hebron Richard Mejia Reservoir Amanda Palmer Reservoir Luis Pena Mt. Hebron Yeni Perez Oakland Mills Odis Ponce Wilde Lake Raquel Redmond Howard Fabian Rodriquez Oakland Mills Nathanael Rojas Long Reach Marco Romero Oakland Mills Nichole Rosado Wilde Lake Roberto Rosario Reservoir Devon Talbot Wilde Lake Maria Valencia Wilde Lake Andrea Vazquez Reservoir Orland Villalonga Howard Leila Wardcantori Reservoir PAGE 6 Sotomayor continued from page 4 became the youngest judge in the Southern Dis- “My hope is that I will take the good trict of New York. She was the first American of from my experiences and extrapolate them Puerto Rican descent to be appointed to the fed- further into areas with which I am unfamiliar. eral bench in New York City. She has been a I simply do not know exactly what that differ- judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sec- ence will be in my judging. But I accept there ond Circuit since 1998. will be some based on my gender and my “Personal experiences affect the facts that Latina heritage.” judges choose to see,” Sotomayor said in a 2001 lecture titled, “A Latina Judge’s Voice.”

Awards Night Photographs Available Online For the second year in a row, photographer Beverlee Barthel volunteered her time to take photographs during the awards ceremony. “It means a lot to me to be able to donate my time to Conexiones,” said Barthel. You can purchase photos of the event at www.pictage.com. Type in “Conexiones Graduation Awards Convocation” when prompted for the event name.

Se puede comprar fotos de la ceremonia por el sitio www.pictage.com, con el título “Conexiones Graduation Awards Convocation.”

New Boy Scout Troop Could Use a Helping Hand

Cub Scout Pack 2010 and Boy Scout Troop 2010 have been established in Columbia, specifically to offer scouting opportunities to low-income Hispanic youth. The group will meet at the Wilde Lake Inter- faith Center.

The new unit is looking for donations of uniforms, sleeping bags, boots, backpacks, mess kits, tents, and other camping equipment.

If you have scouting experience and would be interested in volunteering, please send a note to edi- [email protected] and we will forward your message to Victor Torres.

www.conexioneshc.org Ahora ¡estoy aquí! PAGE 7 Excerpt from the essay of Maria del Mar Valencia

Ahora ¡estoy aquí! He regresado gracias a las vueltas que da el destino y la lucha sostenida que he librado en contra de las adversidades. Por supuesto debo agradecer con todo mi corazón tanto las muestras de ánimo y su apoyo incondicional que he recibido siempre de la persona más hermosa sobre este planeta, mi Madre. Su enseñanza más grande consiste en fijar claramente las metas y siempre tenerlas al frente sin perderlas de vista. Ella constantemente dice: “Debes desear lo que amas y debes amar lo que desas y aún cuando la roca se atraviese en el recorrido, obstruyendo tus sueños, nunca dudes que tus sueños te están ahí detrás de la roca. Debes saltarla o rodearla. Ahí estará esperándote con tus ilusiones y cada vez más cerca para hacerlos realidad…” Nuevamenta, llena de esperanzas estoy acá en Estados Unidos, con una inmensa alegría puedo casi palpar una de mis mayores metas: “Culminar mi preparatoria (High School) y continuar con mis estudios superiores. Mi recorrido se inició en el año 2002, estaba por terminar el mes de Julio cuando mi mamá llegó a los Estados Unidos. Los primeros días de Agosto llegué con mi hermanito de mi país de Colombia para reunirme con mi mamá. Todos estábamos entusiasmados pues daba comienzo una nueva vida llena de oportunidades. Al poco tiempo estaba inscrita en la escuaela Mt. Hebron para así terminar mis estudios. El primer día de clases estaba muy nerviosa, tenía muchas expectativas pero muy pocas respuestas. Yo era nueva en este país y no conocía a ninguna de las personas que me rodeaban, tampoco hablaba el idioma; en ese momento más que nunca recordaba la enseñanza de mi mami: “No pierdas tu meta, sólo salta la roca que se te atraviesa en tu camino…” Lo que yo veía era una inmensa roca, era una montaña, estaba asustada y a punto de salir corriendo a casa. En el fondo de mi ser sabía que podía y debía lograr dar ese primer paso. En efecto tenía a la vista una montaña como obstáculo. Inicié en las clases de ESOL, cuando pensaba en el cansancio por tanto esfuerzo recordaba a mi mamá y sus palabras sabias. Fue un año difícil para mí pero cuando finalizó el año escolar pude notar que estaba en la cima de esa montaña que obstaculizó mi camino. ¡Lo había logrado! Ahora mi meta estaba de nuevo nítida, poco a poco se estaba poniendo borrosa!...entonces corrí a abrazar a mi madre. Los años siguientes fueron más sencillos y me había adoptado a mi nuevo entorno y podía comunicarme en el idioma de esta tierra tan lejana a mi antiguo hogar. Todo empezó a marchar bien, obtenía buenas calificaciones, incluso recibí diplomas por ser la mejor estudiante del mes. Era una persona sumamente feliz, especialmente al ver cerca mi meta más inmediata: ¡mi graduación! Sólo faltaba un poco de brecha en el camino, ya la montaña se encontraba a mis espaldas, muy atrás, tan lejos que casi no la veía. Cuando miraba al frente no se encontraban rocas ni montañas, ni siquiera granos de arena, no había obstáculos para alcanzar mi meta... Lo que no sabía era que sí había una roca pero nunca la vi a tiempo para prepararme o asimilar la situación. Ese obstáculo no estaba al frente, vino de arriba, llegó a mi planeta de felicidad y estabilidad de forma de meteoro y su impacto fue devastador, fue un desastre que borró mi meta con un golpe brusco. Era el año 2005 por burocracía y papeleos legales con inmigració tuve que salir de los Estado Unidos y regresar a Colombia, muy en contra de mis deseos y opuesta a realizar mi sueño… ...Pasado algún tiempo se empezó a generar una nueva vida en mi ser, en mis entrañas, en mi vida. Ya era una madre gestante y éste nuevo acontecimiento me impidió culminar mis estudios de enfermería con los que tanta ilusión tenía. Algunas personas insinuaron que había estropeado mi vida entera por estar embarazada pero yo he pensado que si eso fuera cierto, no existiría la humanidad pues todas las mujeres del mundo que han tenido hijos en la historia habrían estropeado sus vidas y si hubiesen actuado en contra del embarazo para no dañar su futuro, nunca se hubiéramos aparecido como personas que actualmente damos impulso y desarrollo a toda las civilizaciones. Mi hijo no sería un obstáculo sino una compañia en mi jornada. A este parte de la historia el destino jugaba sus cartas en mi favor. El 4 de Noviembre del 2007 mis pies tocaron nuevamente el suelo de los Estados Unidos, los dos pequeños pies de mi hijo, también lo hicieron. Me matriculé y el 18 de Septiembre del año pasado inicié la fase final para lograr mi meta. Ya puedo saborear con todos mis sentidos el manjar del triunfo y palpar el trofeo que me espera, ya puedo ver con detalle su esplandor. Ahora estoy acá, tengo conmigo lo que aprendí en mi recorrido de casi siete años de travesía desde que llegué por primera vez a este país. Después de tapar cráteres, escalar montañas y saltar piedras. Sólo me falta cruzar la meta; pero es justo ahí donde inicia el siguiente camino, continuar y terminar mis estudios de enfermería...es mi pasión. No tengo duda que lo lograré porque tengo lo más preciado a mi lado, mi mamá, mi hermanito y mi bebé. Gracias mami por tus enseñanzas y por la fortaleza que me inculcaste, no te defraudaré y llena de satisfacción en un futuro diré “Soy enfermera.”

www.conexioneshc.org PAGE 8 “Role Model” by Amanda Palmer When I was young, I wondered why the counselor t-shirts at the YMCA Camp Letts said “ROLE MODEL” on the back instead of “STAFF.” It wasn’t until I was a Counselor in Training (CiT) this past summer that I realized the significance behind the choice of words. “Staff” simply means that you are just another run of the mill YMCA employee. “Role Model” means that you are not there just for the paycheck, but also for the experience and responsibility of having an impact on the lives of young campers. And knowing that you have that impact is more rewarding than any measly salary ever could be. Camp Letts has become more important to me than a simple summer camp. It has become my second home. I relished the days I spent on those 125 perfect acres of peninsula singing silly songs and relaxing on the water-skiing dock. If I close my eyes, I can see the soothing Rhode River and the abundant woods that have become synonymous with the word “summer” in my mind. Camp Letts not only watched me grow, but it played a major part in my development. During my four weeks as a CiT, I learned many lessons regarding leadership and responsibility from various mentors, including the summer camp director and other counselors. Non-humans, how- ever, provided the most important lesson. Jellyfish plague the waters surrounding Camp Letts. The mere sight of one of these amorphous, floating terrors is enough to send a camper into hysterics. As water-ski counselors, we have to pick up these nuisances and throw them away from the dock, while getting stung numerous times all over our bodies. Getting stung by jellyfish may not seem like an ideal way to spend a summer, but we do it with a smile on our faces because it keeps the campers happy and feeling safe. By the end of the summer, I could walk through a group of jellyfish and get stung all over my legs without reacting once, simply because I knew one gasp of pain would send the camper I was teaching into a fit of panic that would completely ruin their water-ski lesson. The jellyfish taught me that I have to put the needs and desires of the campers before mine if I wanted to be a successful counselor and leader. I learned to be a leader through other experiences as a CiT. After living in a cabin with eight 10- year-old girls, and teaching campers aged 9 to 17 how to water-ski or wakeboard, I learned that I could command respect. I was able to get my point across quickly and fully, and the campers came to trust me. In my opinion, good leaders inspire trust in the people they lead. One of the most touching moments that I ever experienced at Camp Letts was when one of the girls in my cabin told me that I was the “coolest counselor ever” because I “really cared” about her day. I realized that my favorite counselors and teachers had cared about my experiences more than theirs, and I was flattered to have been able to do the same for another little girl. I was almost as elated to receive my own “ROLE MODEL” t-shirt as I was to hear the compli- ment from my camper. The group of CiTs was preparing to taking our official group picture on the last day of summer, and the group was wearing handmade tie-dyed t-shirts that proclaimed “CiT...kind of a big deal.” Just before the picture was taken, the summer camp director handed us each a coveted navy blue t-shirt emblazoned “STAFF...ROLE MODEL.” Putting that t-shirt on made me feel as though I was no longer a carefree adolescent but had become a responsible and aware young adult.

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Conexiones of Howard County P.O. Box 6997 Columbia, MD 21045

www.conexioneshc.org