Fort Lewis College and El Centro de Muchos Colores will host Latino College Day on Friday, providing prospective Hispanic college students and their families an opportunity to experience a day of life on campus.

Shirena Trujillo Long, coordinator for the center – a campus club that promotes the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and multicultural students – said it’s important for under-represented students to support each other.

The event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. and concludes with a dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., is funded by a grant from The Ballantine Family Fund.

“They have been longtime supporters of Latino College Day,” Trujillo Long said.

Students can learn how to apply for college admission, access a college service fair, attend a diversity workshop and hear an address from FLC President Dene Thomas.

“There’s a lot of research out there that shows for under-represented students to succeed in predominately white campuses across the nation and the globe, they need to see themselves in higher education, and they also need to find places where they can be involved,” Trujillo Long said. “I have students and staff that prospective students can identify with.”

El Centro, which also celebrates pride in cultural heritage with language, music and dance, is also bringing in a keynote speaker, hip-hop artist and social justice advocate Adrian Molina, who will spend the day with students. Molina also will perform for the public at 7 p.m. Friday.

“Outside speakers who are brought in that night have a message that students can resonate with,” Trujillo Long said.

Students and staff also will share their stories, challenges and successes. Any prospective Hispanic students are encourage to attend.

“We all know that planting the seed can never start too early,” she said.

For more information, contact El Centro de Muchos Colores at 247-7654 or visit www.fortlewis.edu/latinocollegeday.

bmathis@durangoherald.com