Skip to Top NavigationSkip to ContentSkip to Footer
Ferris State University BulldogFerris State University Logo

The 2023 Alsame Youth Conference to Bring 500 to Ferris in May

Alsame event coming in May 2023

The 2023 Alsame Youth Conference on Friday, May 12, in the David L. Eisler Center. Shown here is a different event hosted on campus by the Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center.

Ferris State University is excited to welcome up to 500 students and support staff to Big Rapids for the 2023 Alsame Youth Conference on Friday, May 12, in the David L. Eisler Center.

Alsame, Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education, is a nonprofit organization invested in enhancing college education accessibility for Michigan Latino students. Ferris officials are excited to welcome an organization committed as a statewide resource helping students pursue and reach their educational goals.

“The opportunity to host the Alsame Youth Conference is fantastic for Ferris State University and, more importantly, for the hundreds of young students who will have an opportunity for exposure to a university environment as they prepare to make critical education decisions that will impact their future,” said Bobby Fleischman, Ferris’ provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “We urge interested students, parents and counselors to mark this May 12 date on their calendars.”

In addition to its annual conference, Alsame assists parents, teachers, counselors and higher education staff through workshops designed to help Latino students achieve success. Ferris, which has a Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center on campus, has previously hosted this conference in 2008 and 2012. In Spring 2023, the CLS celebrates 10 years of championing campus, local and regional collaboration while advocating for successful college experiences for students culminating in graduation.

“Alsame’s annual Latino Youth Conference aims to offer information to Latino high school students to enhance academic success, promote higher education, and help with career planning,” said Salvador Lopez, co-chair of the Alsame board. “Each year, the conference is hosted by a different participating institution, and our team is thrilled to bring the conference back to Big Rapids, Michigan.” 

This event, which attracts hundreds of young Michigan students to Ferris, is an opportunity to showcase the campus and the higher education experience to the visiting students.

“The heartbeat of our campus is our students,” said Jeanine Ward-Roof, vice president for Student Affairs at Ferris. “We’re excited to open our doors and showcase to these young students from across the state of Michigan the opportunities for them as they set their sights on higher education. It is an honor for Ferris to host an event of this magnitude, and we look forward to welcoming the students and the Alsame members and sharing the available resources with them for a successful start to college.”

Annually, Alsame presents scholarships to high school seniors based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular participation and promoting cultural awareness.

Individuals and organizations interested in the conference can submit a proposal for a workshop, register to serve as a volunteer and register a bus group of attendees.

For more information, contact Lopez at [email protected] and visit the website.