The College of Business prides itself on reaching a growing number of Hispanic students, reflective of the university’s broader emphasis on being an HSI, or Hispanic Serving Institution. About 30% of our students are of Hispanic heritage, many of whom are first-generation college students in their respective families.
In order to provide both a service learning experience for Hispanic students, as well as a support network, Leslie Ramops Salazar, Professor and the Abdullat Professor of Business Communication and Decision Management, founded the WT chapter of ALPFA, or Association of Latino Professionals for America.
“ALPFA is a friendly career and leadership development student organization,” she explained. “Our purpose is to enhance the business and professional networking opportunities for our Latino students and any other students who seek careers in business related fields by empowering them by developing their leadership skills.”
She launched WT’s chapter in Fall 2016. “I wanted to launch a Hispanic business student club that was connected to national-level resources for our student body, because I noticed many Hispanic students didn’t have a place to feel culturally welcomed or connected to resources,” she ALPFA was the perfect choice because as the largest Latino-focused organization in the U.S. With over 100,000+ members they provide annual scholarships for Latino undergraduate and graduate students, and fellowships.”
But it is more than just providing a place for Hispanic students to network. Instead, Ramos Salazar leads students into valuable community projects that benefit others. “The students select community service projects each semester, leaders provide ideas, and the membership votes on the selected projects,” she said. “During the fall semester, we hosted a Holiday Food Drive to feed the local community in Canyon with food insecurity, which benefited the Buff-A-Food pantry. Each fall, we also donate Christmas decorations, and we decorate a Christmas tree to benefit a low-income family in Amarillo through the Festival of Trees as part of the Canyon Angel Tree project.”
But that was only the beginning. “During the spring semester, we hosted a Wild Fire Victims Supply Drive to help in the recovery efforts of the wild fire victims of the Texas Panhandle; we collected hand sanitizers, wipes, protein bars, trail mix, diapers, among other items,” she mentioned. “Most recently, a couple of leaders represented WT at the Barrio Cleanup sponsored by the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee near La Plazita of Amarillo, TX. This service benefits the El Barrio community to beautify and sanitize neighborhood living conditions.”
Efforts such as those nurtured by faculty such as Ramos Salazar are part and parcel of the College of Business, where a culture of service learning is championed. “My hope is that students learn the value of giving back to their local community,” she reflected. “As a faculty advisor, it is rewarding to see students grow their professional and career skills throughout the years. I cherish the moments when students earn a competitive scholarship, lead a successful community project, get an internship, get their dream job, or get into graduate school.”