Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp (LLCEC)

Institution
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
State
Kentucky
Academic Level
Associate
Issue Area
Academic Program
Key Personnel
Program Focus
College Prep

Overview

Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp (LLCEC) started as a college preparatory day camp in 2006. Since 2008, the LLCEC has evolved into an intensive college literacy program that nurtures peer and professional mentoring, exposes students to college opportunities, increases self-awareness, self-advocacy, and engages students in social justice issues. 

The LLCEC seeks to help Latinx and immigrant youth pursue and achieve their college and career goals. Our youth face many obstacles and limitations; yet, we aim to help our youth focus on their possibilities creating goals for the educational, career and leadership interests.

Program Description

Created in 2006, the LLCEC provides youth an intensive college/career preparation, social justice education, and leadership development program that includes mock college classes, college/career planning sessions, and social justice arts and science based project classes. Additionally, the program themes and curriculum is further developed during peer mentoring sessions, health and wellness activities and follow-up mentoring and outreach throughout the school year including full “familia” gatherings and place based high school or community visits. Specific annual goals for participants include:

  1. All students regardless of grade will create college and/or career goals with action steps
  2. All seniors will identify at least one college to apply for and/or one career opportunity to pursue
  3. All college freshman will connect to academic and extracurricular services (mentoring programs, etc) for support
  4. A total of 5 Students will be nominated to PFY Scholarship.

Outcome

  • The program has served 1,207 students; of those who have completed high school 84% have enrolled in college.
  • Of the 1,200 plus students who have attended the LLCEC, nearly half (585) have graduated from college with at least an associates degree.
  • To date 38 students have participated in the dual credit effort; with 22 of the 30 seniors enrolling in college in the fall semester prior to graduation. Two more will be enrolling in Spring 2021 semester.