This year’s largest Latino event at Wright State will include Cheryl McHenry, longtime WHIO news anchor, who will discuss Ohio’s growing Latino population.
The Amigos Latinos Gala, hosted by the Office of Latino Affairs, will be held Friday, April 14, from 6 to 11 p.m. in Wright State’s Nutter Center.
The celebration is open to the public. Nearly 250 individuals are expected to attend.
Registration is required and ends Friday, April 7. Individual tickets are $75 and sponsor tables range in price. For every sponsor table sold, two Wright State students attend for free.
The Latino student population at Wright State has increased by 30 percent in one year, with over 500 Latino students now attending the university.
The need to grow Latino student success motivated Tony Ortiz, who recently retired as associate vice president of Latino affairs, to do something bigger for the community when he created the gala four years ago.
“It’s our investment to our students to show them that we care. The less time they have to worry about their finances the more they could spend on their studies,” Ortiz said.
The annual gala raises funds for Latino student scholarships at Wright State and students participating in El Puente Educational Center, where Latino students receive tutoring.
The gala also connects students to networking opportunities and supports students through raising funds.
The event includes festive music performed by Son Del Caribe, dancing, Latino cuisine, speakers and a silent auction. Awards recognizing those who make a difference in Dayton’s Latino community will be presented.
Eddie Torres, a marketing major at Wright State, will speak about the vision for the Office of Latino Affairs, which has had Latino students visiting from other Ohio universities seeking additional resources.
For more information, visit wright.edu/latino-affairs or contact Kathryn Espino at 937-775-3806 or kathryn.espino@wright.edu.
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