No habla? No problem. ECC to hold bilingual college prep meeting

Sharing information about college preparation shouldn't be limited to English speakers, Elgin Community College officials believe.

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, the school will hold a College is Possible bilingual town hall meeting to educate students and parents about financing and readying for higher education.

Normally held at high school campuses in the area, this is the first time a college will play host to the event, said Mary Perkins, ECC's dean of enrollment management. "We're so excited for this," she said. "Not only does the location make it more accessible, it also gives people a chance to take in how a campus looks and feels."

More than 6,500 students from Elgin, Larkin and Streamwood high schools were invited to attend, Perkins said.

The schools were chosen because of their high percentage of Hispanic students.

While the event is sponsored by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, along with Wal Mart, Perkins stressed attendance is not limited to Latinos, or to the schools on the invite list. "Really, the theme is college readiness," she said. "It's certainly sponsored and put on by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, but that message applies across the board."

During the 2-hour meeting, Hispanic Scholarship Fund officials will give three presentations - one on financial aid, one on college preparation, and another on scholarships, Perkins said. Information will be delivered in both English and Spanish.

The town-hall style format allows the meeting to "really get into questions," Perkins said. Translators will be on hand.

Representatives from a dozen colleges, including the American Academy of Art, Benedictine University, Columbia College, Eastern and Northern Illinois universities, Robert Morris College and the University of Minnesota, will be on hand to answer school-specific questions, Carlos Rinconeño, a Midwest coordinator for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund said.

Registration in advanced is preferred. Call (847) 473-2426 or visit www.hsf.net for details.