Banquet a Celebration of SLP Family

The 20^th anniversary celebration of the Student Leadership Program (SLP) was more than just an opportunity to honor an award-winning curriculum. It was a celebration of family.

Educators, state officials, SLP alumni and volunteers gathered during this year’s state SLP conference from as far away as 3,000 miles to enjoy one another’s company and recall how SLP brought them all together and created a bond that has held strong over the years.

The SLP curriculum -- which emphasizes building relationships; understanding individual potential; making choices; action planning; problem-solving; and communication – has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an exemplary program and has been the recipient of three state awards, most recently the Golden Apple Award presented by then Gov. Gary Locke and Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson.

Since the first small group of 33 migrant students participated in the 1986 conference, some 1,600 have had their lives changed by the SLP.

Honored during the banquet were those who helped develop the program 20 years ago and have continued refining it.

Linda Roberts, director of the Office of Secondary Education for Migrant Youth (SEMY), has invested 20 years of dreaming, believing and achieving.

Roberts, former state Migrant Education Director Raul de la Rosa, Dr. Ken Fox, Dr. Bill Hansen, Jeanette Morales, Jim Rigney, Ignacio Resendez and Andy Rodarte conceptualized the first SLP conference in 1986. Fox, Hansen, Pat Eastwood and a variety of other SLP volunteers and staff have helped develop the curriculum over the two decades since.

Elizabeth Hernandez, a ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­former SLP staff member and conference volunteer, honored several important members of the “extended SLP family” during the banquet.

Dr. Kenneth Fox helped to create the program, and continues to mentor staff and students.

“Many students recall being in his small group, and they comment years later about something he shared:  ‘I remember that Dr. Fox said to read, read, read.’  ‘I remember when Dr. Fox said to look inside.’  ‘He said we could lift a person by our fingertips, and we DID!’  Ken, you are our counselor, our mentor and our anchor,” Hernandez said.

Dr. William Hansen co-wrote the first curriculum used in the SLP conference. 

“Bill’s unique teaching and writing skills came in sooo handy in the early years,” Hernandez said. “He mentored scores of young managers and teachers who, to this day, look up to him.  He has facilitated at almost every conference, and comes to swing with students and staff at our annual conference dance.  Bill [is] our greatest supporter and, as evaluator of the program, our greatest ‘critiquer’ -- your keen eye and sharp intellect has helped to showcase the program for all to see.”

Patricia Eastwood has worked with the Student Leadership Program for 10 years and has spearheaded great updates to our curriculum.  Another special contribution is the top quality training she provides.  Appealing to all learners, she models best how our facilitators work with students,” Hernandez said. 

“Staff remember well her colorful and artistic banners, posters and training materials.  Through Pat’s efforts, educators are able to integrate our nationally recognized curriculum into the everyday lives of their students; she helps each mentor to ‘be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage,’” Hernandez said.

Carlos Maya III is SLP’s most experienced chaperone.

“Carlos exemplifies the ‘can do, will do’ attitude,” Hernandez said.  “Carlos helps new staff ‘learn the ropes’ and is always available to sing a song, recognize a student, and share an encouraging word.  Carlos works hard to bring the emotion from our closing session into focus and make it positive for everyone … through ‘music and a hug.’  Carlos tries to be everywhere all at once … and SUCCEEDS!”   

Raul Sital began volunteering with SLP as a college student and has continued as he progressed in his own career – now as the new principal of one of the largest high schools in the state, Pasco High.

“Raul has been an event stalwart -- attending, keynoting, facilitating, training and mentoring for many years,” said Hernandez.  “When building the program ‘on the fly’ and creating impromptu activities, Raul could always be counted on…: ‘Here, Raul, take the mic and tell the kids this.…’ ‘Raul, come over here — model the limbo for us.’  ‘Raul, wake us up.’ And Raul always shows up to conferences in his dress shirt and tie — modeling for his students.”

Another supporter of the Student Leadership Program is Patricia Loera, a former migrant student who later became assistant attorney general of the state of Washington and now program director at the Gates Foundation.  She served as MC for the SLP celebration banquet.

“Linda has shared that her best memory of SLP is when the first set of students returned to SLP as staff.  ‘We’ve had to wait a few years for our kids to come back to us – but the wait has been well worth it!’ Loera quoted.

The banquet honored some of the former migrant students who returned later as conference volunteer staff.

“Best of all, they are now highly committed, loyal and really great role models,” Loera said. 

Students Janette Mariscal of Brewster and Griselda Gonzalez of East Wenatchee assisted Loera in introducing the former students made good.

Claudia Avendano-Palomera picked strawberries, raspberries and cucumbers in Skagit County. She later graduated from college with a double major in American Cultural Studies and Legal Advocacy, and she is now about to begin her master’s program. She is the mother of one daughter and is employed by Skagit County as an intervention specialist. 

Rafael Cisneros picked strawberries and raspberries in Skagit County and cut asparagus and picked apples in the Yakima area. He later received his bachelor’s degree in engineering and is now an engineering projects manager for a company in the Silicon Valley, working on amplifiers used in radar, communications and electronic countermeasure systems for the nation’s defense. But for two years now he has traveled back to be with his SLP family.

Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia studied in Washington state and Mexico and worked as a paralegal in Yakima. This year Iggy earned the “farthest away award,” traveling from Georgia, where he now works, to join the chaperone team. 

Candelario Gonzalez picked berries in the Skagit area. “Cande” is now a bilingual teacher in Shelton School District, sharing his outstanding compassion with kindergartners. 

Gerardo Gonzalez cut asparagus in the Yakima Valley and picked berries in the Skagit area.  He is a bachelor’s degree student at Heritage University and recently received a scholarship to study architecture in Chicago.

Adelina Grajeda worked fruit trees in Manson.  “Addie” still helps her parents in the fields as she can.  She is an outreach/retention specialist at Eastern Washington University and will earn a master’s in Social Work in 2007.  At the time of the banquet, she was close to giving birth to her first child.

Hilda Grajeda also did orchard work in Manson.  She is an Eastern Washington University student who returned to SLP last year as one of our newest staff members.

Barbara Guzman worked in the apple industry in the Chelan/Douglas area.  Currently a second-year graduate student at the Evans School of Public Affairs, she is set to graduate this June.  Barbie is conducting a formal evaluation of the Student Leadership Program for her master’s thesis. 

Veaney Martinez is a bachelor’s degree student at Eastern Washington University who also returned to SLP last year as one of the newest staff members. 

Mireya Prieto remembers picking berries in Lynden, picking cucumbers in Bellingham, picking and/or thinning tree fruit and cutting asparagus in Yakima Valley.  Mireya is currently high school secretary in Grandview, and mother of three.  She recently completed her associate degree and is working to achieve her bachelor’s degree.

Isabel Sanchez worked in tree fruit, gathered baby’s breath Okanogan County; and picked oranges in California.  After having studied abroad and receiving multiple scholarships, Isabel recently attained her master’s degree and is a counselor at a community college in Salem, Ore. Isabel also stays very busy interpreting with firefighting crews during forest fire season.

Selene Zapata picked raspberries near Everett and did orchard and asparagus work in Yakima Valley.  Selene was recognized by the Department of Education as national exemplary student at Sunnyside School District.  She is currently studying at Yakima Valley Community College and working full time. 

Other former SLP students who turned volunteer staff could not attend the celebration this year. Antonio Garibay is currently working in banking and management and leads youth activities at his local church. Florentino Barrera is a counselor at Pasco High School. Jose Cervantes raised a family and received his bachelor’s degree at the same time, and is now an information systems technician for Whatcom County.  And Faviola Contreras-Barbosa is an active mother and community member, a member of the Washington State Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and a program coordinator in Wenatchee. 

Three former SLP students who returned this year as volunteers were America Carrion, Lady Martinez and David Molina. Molina is partner and chief operating officer of Red Consulting Group, and was recently appointed to the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

Dr. Richard Cole, superintendent of the Sunnyside School District, which administers SEMY, introduced the event and the visiting dignitaries, including Rep. Bruce Chandler (R-Granger) and former state Migrant Education Director Raul de la Rosa.

A skit produced by 14 veteran SLP students was directed by Mrs. Sherry Schreck, drama teacher.