Hispanic Youth Promoting Education (HYPE) is an organization that brings students together to take part in different types of community service and encourage them to further their education beyond high school.
While the club is geared towards Hispanics, any students looking to fulfill their academic goals are welcome to join.
In order to promote college life, the sponsors of HYPE, Atanasio Valadez and Joanne Reyes, provide opportunities for students to become aware of the different choices they have once they are out of high school.
“We have guest speakers who come in and we do mini workshops,” Valadez said. “We provide financial aid opportunities, we have college application information and we also try to take field trips to universities, colleges and work sites to see what people do in the real world.”
Besides preparing students for their future, HYPE also provides opportunities for students to get involved with and give back to the community
“Community service projects this year are still in the works, it just depends on what the kids want to do,” Reyes said. “We definitely want to get involved in the community though.”
Senior Alyssa Salinas appreciates the community service HYPE allows her to take part in as well as the impact HYPE has had on her aspirations for life.
“I think it has brought my confidence up. Before, [I joined HYPE] I was like, ‘I’m not going to college. I can’t afford it,’ but now, [HYPE] has made me determined to want to go to college,” Salinas said.
HYPE gives students the opportunity to meet some of their peers with the same interests.
“Sometimes I see that there’s not very many Hispanics in the professional work place,” Valadez said, “A goal of mine is to maybe raise that number, beginning here in the classroom and encourage students to continue with their studies. Throughout my education I have had several mentors guide me. Therefore, it is my responsibility to help students and hope that they also pay it forward.”
Students can find out more about HYPE by attending one of the meetings held every Thursday at 4:00 in room 2122. Everyone is welcome to come and take an active role in the organization.
