For Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement, the new year means new role models for Hamilton students.
The New Jersey-based nonprofit HISPA mobilizes Hispanic professionals to step into classrooms to show students that they too can achieve their dreams if they work hard and stay in school.
The organization’s year-long Role Model Program launched in two Hamilton high schools this month. The first session was held at Nottingham High School on Jan. 12 The first role models—HISPA CEO Dr. Ivonne Díaz-Claisse and Sandra Batista, Ph.D. and Princeton University Computer Science Lecturer—shared their educational and professional journeys with students.
Díaz-Claisse also spoke at Hamilton High School West on Jan. 25 with Hamilton Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer.
Schirmer is the first Hispanic to hold this office and has been a strong advocate for bringing HISPA to her community. Learning about HISPA, she recognized the impact the organization could have on students and contacted the school district.
With financial support from the Comcast Foundation, the Roma Bank Foundation, and the Hamilton School District, 130 Hamilton students will have access to role models who can show them that their dreams can be realities if they pursue higher education.
These students will join the 9,000 HISPA has reached since the organization began with Díaz-Claisse’s visit to a local New Jersey school. While speaking to students, she shared her story and the obstacles she faced growing up in Puerto Rico due to a lack of role models. Despite these challenges, she went on to earn two master’s degrees and her Ph.D. in mathematics.
Díaz-Claisse said she realized that students craved role models with whom they shared language or cultural background, someone that reminded them of their families. She also knew there were many professionals like her who could do the same.
Hispanic student success is critical not only to the community but to America’s future: Hispanic students will make up nearly one of every three students by 2025.
Though progress has been made, Hispanics still have the highest dropout rate of all major racial and ethnic groups, and fewer than 10 percent have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. HIPSA aims to close the academic achievement gap.
