Through its work and involvement with The National Hispanic Institute (NHI), Cabrini was named College of the Year.
NHI is an organization that strives to make the young people in Latino communities throughout America and Latin America leaders by creating experiences and opportunities for them to participate in.
Cabrini has had a relationship with the non-profit since late 2013. President Donald B. Taylor enhanced his pre-existing relationship with the organization and brought it to Cabrini.
“Cabrini University is forging new partnerships to deepen its relationships in the community. The National Hispanic Institute-Cabrini partnership makes it possible for deserving young people to gain invaluable leadership experiences and build strategic contacts for their futures. We esteem Cabrini as a valuable partner and ally in our mission,” Executive Vice President of NHI Nicole Nieto de Sada said.
A large part of Cabrini’s relationship comes from the College World Series (CWS) that has been held on campus for the last three summers.
“Through sitting down with Dr. Taylor, I know that his goals are to be one of the largest Hispanic serving institutes in the Northeast and be an example as a leading Catholic institution,” CWS Program Director Zachary Gonzalez said.
The CWS is a way for students to receive guidance as they go through the college application process. Students travel to Cabrini’s campus for a five-day college process preparation.
“While it covers the country, the majority of them are from the Southwest and the South. So, for a lot of them [the students] it was their first time ever leaving the South and getting up to the Northeast and it opens up new opportunities for them,” Brian Eury, chief of staff, said.
Once they are on campus, the students are given guidance on their Common Application, their essays and their resumes. Cabrini also provides the students with financial aid advisement.
“I talk to students that are first-generation, that have never seen a FAFSA. I explain to them the process of the application – what’s important for them to get in order. I also talk to students who are undocumented, or they’re documented but their parents aren’t – how they can navigate the financial aid process their senior year,” Coordinator of Educational Partnerships Angelica Martinez said.
Through its work with NHI and CWS, NHI named Cabrini the College of the Year.
Eury accepted the award on behalf of Cabrini University.
“It [the award] was through the work of Dr. Taylor. When Dr. Taylor arrived on campus close to about four years ago, he offered Cabrini as basically the lone-Northeast college or university that hosts NHI. We have students during that week come from all over the country,” Eury said. “From that, we have started working more with them on some of the federal and state issues surrounding Latinos, Hispanics – some of the immigration issues. And it was basically just from the NHI – it was an acknowledgement of Dr. Taylor’s leadership.”
Receiving this award, gives Cabrini the recognition and exposure that it needs to provide its services to as many students as possible.
“I’ve been to Cabrini every year its hosted it [the Collegiate World Series], and it’s one of the warmest and the most sincere places that we’ve ever been to,” Gonzalez said.
Video provided by Angelica Martinez.
For more information about NHI, please visit: https://www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org/
To read about Dr. Taylor’s work with immigration, please visit: http://www.aldianews.com/articles/local/cabrini-university-bettings-immigrants/45262
