Ram Page

Issue date: 10/2/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of the Multicultural Center Host parents (center) Dr. John Klingemann and Lorina Soza-Klingeman, coordinator of the Host family program, join their host daughter Cheryl Lewis (right) at a Multicultural Center event. Leticia Martinez and Mario Ramos (left) are also host students.

The Multicultural Center hopes to help first generation students transition into college with the First Generation Host Family Program.

The program began in the Spring of 2008 with seven students and seven families but has more than doubled this year with 19 students and 19 host families.

The program places first generation students, those whose parents did not go to college, with families who act as mentors.

Freshman Emily Simmons said she found out about the program from a poster at SOAR.

"I've gained a friend that I can go to if I need anything and two little brothers," Simmons said.

Families spend time with students doing activities like taking them shopping, cooking and eating together and celebrating birthdays.

"We are excited that we've doubled in just a semester," said Lorina Soza-Klingemann, office coordinator for the Multicultural Center.

The program was created to help first-generation students feel more comfortable about attending college.

"We want them to adjust to their new life easier," Soza-Klingemann said.

The goals of the program, as stated on the Multicultural Center web site, are to create relationships, interaction, awareness and provide students with new experiences around San Angelo.

The Multicultural Center also sets up events to encourage interaction between all of the students and families involved like socials, dinners, themed dances, game nights and clothing and food drives.

Soza-Klingemann said the events are fun and relaxed.

"They are just a way to catch up and create a bigger network," she said.

The program accepts students of all ages, even non-traditional students, as long as they are enrolled full-time, are first-semester freshman and first-generation students.

Host families can either be married or single, with or without children.

Soza-Klingemann said the families mostly consist of faculty and staff and usually hear about the program through word of mouth.

Simmons said she would recommend the First Generation Host Family program to all students, especially the ones who do not have family nearby.

She has learned a lot from the program and would eventually like to become a host family for a freshman, she said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools