by Erica Aburto | Nov 30, 2011 | News Slider
Freddy Quiteno, a recent Lipscomb graduate, looked out at the crowd in Allen Arena and said, “Without the YMCA Latino Achievers, I might not be standing here on stage before you. I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I received from the staff.” His comments came earlier this month, during the 10th annual dinner honoring YMCA Latino Achievers. Up-and-coming Hispanic college students are the focus of the program. The program has achieved much success in its high school initiatives, which have a 100 percent graduation rate and half of its participants moving on to college. Dinner invitees include national and local businesses that have contributed financially to the organization’s program. The annual event serves as an opportunity not only for local businesses to support a good cause but also for Hispanic professionals to network and serve as mentors and role models to the students. Tabbata Castillo, a senior nursing major, gave the welcome, greeting benefactors with her testimonial about how she has benefitted from the program. Lipscomb students shared what they appreciated about the program. “The Latino Achievers Program has really helped me just by allowing me to be here [at Lipscomb]. If it wasn’t for this program, I wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to go to college,” said Melanie Re, a sophomore studying corporate management. “It was encouraging that there was a program that put hope back in my life,” she said. “Coming to Lipscomb through the program was the best decision I ever made.” Sophomore Oscar Rayo, an interntional business student, said, “Not only did they help me find more scholarships, they also helped me to develop more networks that would connect...
by Erica Aburto | Nov 22, 2011 | News Slider, Opinion
People will wake up before dawn Friday to get a head start on Christmas shopping, and Lipscomb students are no exception. Heck, some have even been camping outside the Best Buy and other “big box” stores for days before Thanksgiving. Ahhh the hallmarks of the holiday season: leaves falling off trees, the ubiquitous smell of pumpkin pie and apple cider, get-togethers and awkward small-talk with distant relatives, and the plethora of food that calls for elastic waistbands.The holiday season is also that time of the year where rules are bent. This isn’t more true than during Black Friday, when millions of people get an early start on their holiday shopping by waiting in lines, for hours at a time, in order to get discounts that more sane people likely will be able to get later. It’s common to see people fight for the same item, cut in line, kick, shove and elbow each other in order to get their items. Fortunately, here are some tips from Lipscomb students in order to avoid disaster and make sure your shopping is as pleasant and safe as possible. 1.) “Get there earlier than they open… make sure to eat and stay hydrated, and be careful of all the other shoppers that may knock you down or steal your items,” said Haleigh Seifert, a junior nursing major. 2.) “From personal experience I think people really need to price check different places. Last year me and my uncle went to three different places looking for the same TV. At the last stop (Costco) we found it for $30 cheaper,” said Josh Asres, a sophomore...
