News Release

Santa Ana College Hosts Mother/Daughter Celebration Dinner on May 5

​WHAT:

Santa Ana College (SAC) has invited Latina students and their mothers to a special celebration of the role mothers play in ensuring that their daughters complete their college educations. According to Univision, Latino mothers occupy a special place in the home and are often seen as the “CEOs of their households” who take a lead in important decisions, including whether their daughters stay in school or drop out to find a job or get married.

This special event includes a keynote presentation by Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees President Claudia C. Alvarez. “My mother was extremely influential and supportive of my educational and career choices. As a woman, she best understood the challenges I faced navigating the educational system. I'm grateful for the confidence she bestowed in me that got me to where I am today. As such, I commend Santa Ana College for recognizing the key role mothers play in their daughter's educational success and for celebrating the priceless mother-daughter relationship,” said Alvarez. Her mother Ana Maria Alvarez will also attend the dinner.

WHERE:

The Hacienda
1725 College Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Get Driving Directions

WHEN:

Thursday, May 5, 2016
5:30 p.m.

WHO:

Sixty Santa Ana College Latina students are invited to attend along with their mothers.

Additional presenters are:

Margarita Sanchez-Padilla, M.D.
Angelina Veyna, M.S., SAC history professor

The Mother/Daughter Celebration Dinner Committee includes SAC counselor Mary Castellanos, Ph.D.; SAC counselor Reina Sanabria, M.S.; and SAC history professor Angelina Veyna, M.S.

WHY:

According to a report published by UCLA professor of education Patricia Gándara and The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, one in five women in the U.S. is Latina. One in four female students in public schools nationwide is a Latina. It is projected that by 2060, Latinas will be nearly a third of the female population in the U.S. Clearly, the future of the nation is very much tied to the future of these women and girls.

The report states that Latinas graduate from high school at lower rates than any other group in the U.S. Because of rivaling work and family demands, attending college is hard and staying in college even harder. Despite the fact that between 2003 and 2013, Latinas increased their rate of associate degree completion by over 8 percent and bachelor’s degree completion by over 6 percent, the Latina degree completion gap, as compared to other subgroups, has not narrowed significantly and remains large. In 2013, nearly 19 percent of Latinas between 25 and 29 had completed a degree, compared to 23 percent of African American women, 44 percent of white women, and 64 percent Asian women.

SAC counselor Mary Castellanos, Ph.D., said, “Because Latino parents may not understand and are ambivalent about encouraging their daughters for fear of them forgetting their traditional family values, the Latina feels isolated, depressed, and ultimately drops out of college. The mother’s involvement aids the daughter in becoming more independent and alleviates the stress of the daughter having to make a choice between family and college. The mother’s understanding of college and its expectations translate into support for her daughter and ultimately academic achievement.”

HOW:

This event was made possible by funding from the Santa Ana College Foundation as well as individual donations.

About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit www.sac.edu to learn more. For information about Santa Ana College’s Centennial, please visit www.sac.edu/100.

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