SAN MARCOS (October 5, 2015) – Tarde de Familia: An Evening for Our Families will be held at the Palomar College Industrial Technology Center on  Friday, October 16, from 6 – 8 p.m.

This semester, the Tarde de Familia event highlights the Diesel Technology program. Featured speakers are Sergio Hernandez, associate professor of diesel technology; José Jacobo, Palomar College alumnus and fleet technician for the Sysco Corporation; and special guest Paul Jacobs, California Environmental Protection Agency California Air Resources Board Chief, Mobile Source Enforcement.

Designed to bring together students and their families with Hispanic professionals, this biannual event also showcases the many programs and resources available to assist underrepresented students at Palomar College. Presentations are conducted entirely in Spanish and a different industry is highlighted each semester.

Tarde de Familia was originated in 2011 by Dr. Rodolfo Jacobo, Jr., assistant professor of Multicultural Studies. Jacobo said, “We are proud to be celebrating our fifth year with this event which provides hope, inspiration and concrete information to our students.”

According to Dr. Jack Kahn, dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), thanks to Jacobo and other members of Grupo Magnifico, an all-volunteer group of staff, faculty and students, “this event gets bigger and better each semester.” The group, formed to provide support to the Hispanic community, has gotten representatives from several College departments and programs to offer outreach at the event. Some areas to be represented include English as a Second Language (ESL); SBS; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC); Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP); Star Tutoring; and many others.

With figures showing Palomar’s Hispanic student population at 39% and growing, the College is recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and receives funding from the federal government designated “to assist with strengthening institutional programs, facilities, and services to expand the educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans and other underrepresented populations.” (U.S. Dept. of Education website). Kahn said that Tarde de Familia is one of many events and programs HSI funding helps make possible.

Palomar was recently ranked “as among the top three colleges and universities in the U.S. for graduating Hispanic students with Associates degrees in  ‘All Disciplines Combined’ for 2015” by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, a newsweekly publication. This ranking was part of a report in the “Hispanic American Heritage” edition of the magazine, released September 24.

For more information about Tarde de Familia, contact ccruz@palomar.edu.

CONTACTS:

Melinda Finn, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Carmelino Cruz, English as a Second Language, 760-744-1150, ext. 2262, ccruz@palomar.edu