SWOSU HALO Officers Attend the 42nd USHLI National Conference

From left to right: SWOSU HALO President Uriel Luna, Advisor Dr. Veronica Aguiñaga, Vice President Liliana Diaz, and Secretary Michelle Chavez.<_o3a_p>

Three officers from the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU)-SWOSU HALO President Uriel Luna, Vice President Liliana Diaz, and Secretary Michelle Chavez, alongside their Advisor Dr. Veronica Aguiñaga-recently participated in the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) National Conference held in Chicago from Feb. 15 to 17.

The USHLI National Conference is known as the foremost Hispanic leadership conference in the nation, catering to high school students, undergraduates, and Hispanic and Latinx professionals. The event aims to promote education and leadership development, empowering Latinos and similarly disenfranchised groups through civic engagement and research.

This year marked the 42 ^nd anniversary of the conference, themed "Rise Up: Defendiendo Lo Tuyo!" Attendees benefited from insights shared by distinguished speakers such as Aquilino Gonell, former U.S. Army soldier and Iraq War veteran; Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Mayo Clinic; and Pepe Serna, American Film Actor and Artist. They also had the privilege of meeting Dr. Juan Andrade, President of USHLI.

From left to right: SWOSU HALO Advisor Dr. Veronica Aguiñaga, HALO Vice President Liliana Diaz, HALO Secretary Michelle Chavez, USHLI President and Co-Founder Dr. Juan Andrade, and HALO President Uriel Luna. Dr. Andrade is a lifelong servant and renowned Hispanic leader in the nation.

With approximately 4,200 attendees, including 1,500 college students from over 98 colleges, the conference brought together a diverse array of young professionals, elected officials, and business, labor, and community leaders. The event provided a platform for diverse discussions on Latino education, cultural celebration, empowerment, socioeconomic advancement, Afro-Latino influence, the Latino vote, diversity, equity, and inclusion, immigration reform, and the recognition of inspirational figures within the Latino community. Most conference participants are or will become the most influential Hispanic leaders of their generation and will help govern our cities, schools, and states.

At the heart of SWOSU HALO's mission lies the commitment to furthering Hispanic traditions and customs on campus, while providing leadership training and opportunities for SWOSU students. The program at the USHLI National Conference aligned with this vision, focusing on Latino education, cultural celebration, empowerment, and civic engagement.

"The USHLI Conference is such an empowering event that focuses on leadership, education, and celebrating the cultural heritage of the Hispanic community. Going to the conference made me gain many valuable experiences like leadership, wanting to stride for more into my education and not giving up when there are bumps throughout life as well as coming back motivated with lots of new ideas we can have for our HALO meetings, talk to our members that there are so many opportunities around the world, and just help many others not giving up and taking advantage of the opportunities we have. I am very grateful that SWOSU gave us the opportunity to attend this conference, and I sure hope to go again next year and have more students be able to attend."

- SWOSU HALO Vice President Liliana Diaz

"Becoming an officer for HALO for the 2023-2024 school year has been nothing but great things. Our HALO program at SWOSU is very small, but I am very confident in kicking things up a notch next year. Going to the USHLI conference really was an eye-opening experience, and I'm very grateful SWOSU gave us the opportunity to attend. It was nothing short of amazing seeing over 4,000 Hispanics attending from all over the country. Coming from a first-generation family, the conference really gave the push of motivation that our culture needs in education. Over the course of three days, we attended many workshops and met with many successful people who overcame the challenges that come with being a first generation student Seeing all of the successful Hispanics really motivated me to continue working on my education despite all obstacles that come my way. Once again, I will always be so thankful for the opportunities SWOSU gives me! DEFIENDE LO TUYO!"

- Michelle Chavez, SWOSU HALO Secretary

"I have been an officer for HALO every year I have been at SWOSU. However, this was the first year that I stepped up to become President of the organization. The conference was an eye-opening experience that I have never had an opportunity to join in. I felt a sense of belonging as I saw thousands of faces that looked like me. The conference impacted me greatly when I saw different Hispanic leaders who would speak about their own experiences. Some were actors, judges, entrepreneurs, and even part of the President's Cabinet. Media typically does not portray Hispanic leaders who would speak about their own experiences. Being able to see these people live and hearing encouraging words from them gave me a sense of empowerment that I did not know I was lacking. The conference showed me that your background only holds you down if you let it. Through hard work, anything is possible no matter who you are. ¡SI SE PUEDE!"

- Uriel Luna, SWOSU HALO President

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Since 1901, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has proudly stood on the hilltop in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Offering over 100 affordable undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon, SWOSU provides a diverse range of academic opportunities with high-quality education to its students. The university boasts a vibrant community of nearly 5,000 scholars and over 200 dedicated faculty and staff. With strong academic programs and a commitment to excellence, SWOSU continues to be a top choice for students seeking a quality education.

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