During National Hispanic Heritage Month, Catawba College is pleased to announce year three of the Unanue Scholars Program. The program is named to honor the memory of distinguished alumna, Mary Ann Unanue (’81), who rose through the ranks of Goya Foods, Inc. to the position of Vice President before her death in 2009 at the age of 49.
In the spring of 2022, Catawba will welcome its third cohort of 18 Latina juniors from the local Rowan County Public School System. Students will be enrolled in a course focused on exploring their own culture while receiving instruction in academic skills crucial for success at the college-level.
To be eligible to participate, Latina juniors must be attending a public high school within Rowan County, N.C. Visit catawba.edu/Unanue to learn more about the program and how students can apply. The priority deadline to apply is November 15, 2021. The application process will remain available until January 4, 2022, on a space-available basis. The course will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. starting on January 10, 2022 and running through April 26, 2022.
“In Latinx Leadership: Youth, Indigeneity, and Sustainability,” says Dr. Mercedes Quesada-Embid, “students will explore the innovative ways by which Latina and Latino youth are engaging with the sustainability movement across the United States and Latin America, while being introduced to foundational skills necessary for success in college.”
Unanue participants will be paired with well-trained mentors chosen from Catawba’s Latina population. There is a large Hispanic student population on campus and 56% of those individuals identify as women. Through different community-building activities, such as group meals, field trips, and tertulias, specifically designed to advance social capital, the mentors will serve as role models and offer advice on the realities of campus life.
Associate Provost Dr. Forrest Anderson says, “The course will be one-hundred percent free for students, count for college credit, and show students that college is attainable and doable.”
Quesada-Embid adds, “Students will discuss issues relevant to Latinx youth and recognize the ways cultural heritage and cultural identity inform individual empowerment and opportunities for solidarity.”
Catawba excels at serving students who have been historically-underserved by higher education—low-income, minority, and first-generation students. Catawba’s commitment to providing an education rich in personal attention has led to resounding success in preparing first-generation students to thrive academically in college and beyond in their professional lives. The faculty and administration are well-positioned to give Hispanic youth the chance to experience college courses and succeed academically here, or wherever they may choose to attend college.
Anderson, a veteran director of student success programs, will be administrative lead. Faculty and staff directing the project include: Steffanie West, Interim Senior Director of Admissions, who will coordinate with local high schools to recruit students; Dr. Quesada-Embid, who will teach the course and guide student mentors; and Dr. Sheila Brownlow, First Year Experience Director, who will assess and evaluate program outcomes.
Program Video:
About Catawba College
Founded in 1851, Catawba College is a four-year, private, liberal arts college conveniently located in Salisbury, N.C. Ranked as one of the best regional colleges in the South, The College offers more than 70 academic programs and three graduate programs offering students the ability to combine and cross majors. Close faculty mentorships and numerous experiential learning options create opportunities for Catawba College graduates to exceed their own expectations and find their vocation. Additional information is available at catawba.edu.
