by Danielle Boyd | Feb 3, 2012 | News Slider
The Latino population in Nashville is growing, and Lipscomb is the first local university to reach out to Latino students by offering grants of up to $22,000 per student for those who meet the general admissions requirements. As President Randy Lowry sets new initiatives to increase growth in higher education among Latino students, the Latino community on campus is growing rapidly. In the hopes of increasing diversity and setting a new vision for campus, Lowry appointed Jessie Van de Griek, the director of the Hispanic Achievers program at the Harding Place Family YMCA, to continue bringing students to Lipscomb. “My role on campus is to be a bridge builder,” she said. As the associate dean of intercultural engagement, Van de Griek works with the Latino students on campus to help identify ways to connect the Latino community to Lipscomb. In addition to being a bridge builder, Van De Griek is a mentor to students, helping them understand the importance of higher education and professional development. For many Latino students on campus, Van de Griek played an important role in providing extra assistance in understanding the enrollment process. Jarathzy Lendos, a sophomore majoring in nursing, said, “I didn’t know a lot of the process that goes into applying…and I asked for their help, and they were more than willing to help me out.” Lack of knowledge on the process of attending college and low income are common obstacles of the Latino community, according to Van de Griek. As a result, most Latino students do not even consider attending college. With the help of Lipscomb and the Hispanic Achievers grant program, more...
