Empowering the Next Generation with Latinos Without Borders
Latinos Without Borders (LWB), a student organization founded at the University of Oklahoma, empowers high school students to pursue higher education and a college degree through an annual conference and a three-day student camp.
“We teach not only the importance of a college degree, but also how to prepare for college applications,” said Azucena Guerrero, LWB’s vice chair of marketing and an OU senior majoring in international business and economics. “Our goal is to help high school students achieve their dreams and aspirations, as well as gain mentors to guide them through the college application process and beyond.”
Founded in 2010, the program hosted its first camp with 15 high school students. Later, in 2014, LWB became a registered student organization at OU and transitioned to serving high school students searching for a welcoming space for all. Today, LWB hosts 100 students from Oklahoma’s two major metros, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and surrounding areas.
Throughout programming, students will embark on a weekend-long journey to learn more about higher education and be inspired by current OU students.
“Hosting camp on a university allows students exposure to university life and to imagine themselves on a college campus,” said Azucena. “Many of us in Latinos Without Borders and many of the high school students we host identify as first-generation students.”
Azucena mentioned LWB members who were first-generation, or the first person in their family to attend college, found it hard to navigate the college application process due to lapses in guidance and support. To bridge that gap for the next generation of college students, Azucena said LWB’s programming fosters a space for high schoolers to ask questions, create connections, and foster guidance and support.
“We offer ACT and financial aid workshops, networking opportunities, mentor, and the opportunity to receive a $500 scholarship,” said Azucena. “At our events, we engrave in our students’ minds that the sky is the limit. They can truly achieve anything they set their mind to.”
Workshops on resume building, career and major exploration, imposter syndrome, scholarship and essay aid, and more not only aid high schoolers in the college application process, but also empower them to take these resources back to their own communities in hopes of positively impacting their own high schools.
“At the University of Oklahoma, there are spaces created for you here,” said Azucena. “Being a first-generation student hindered my idea of attending college. I often thought that it would be too expensive or that I wouldn’t belong. Looking back on my decision, I am grateful for choosing OU and all the people I met in return.”
