On Thursday March 20, 2025, the Puente Learning Community and Outreach office hosted the annual high school outreach event, Discover Puente. This year’s event brought local high school students enrolled in the Herman@s Programs at Peninsula High School and South San Francisco High School to Skyline College. This unique event provides the opportunity for students to meet the Puente Learning Community team, hear from current students and experience the beautiful Skyline College campus.
The day was filled with many different activities, starting the morning off with a welcome from Ellen Murray, Acting Dean of Counseling, Advising and Matriculation and Skyline College Recruiter, Ryan Samn followed by the inspiring keynote speaker, Dr. César Cruz, founder of Homies Empowerment. Dr. Cruz talked about his experience growing up as a Latino as well as the hidden history that revolves around Latinos in the US and their contributions.
Next, Promise Scholar Counselor, Dino Garcia facilitated a discussion with a panel of current and former Puente students sharing about their college experiences and advice for academic success. This allowed students to gain insight on what they might expect in their college journey from finding their major to getting involved in student life. Students also delved into writing poems through the lens of culture, history and family as part of their taste of the Puente ENGL 110, Composition, Literature and Critical Thinking course by writing their own version of the Rudolfo “Corky” Gonzalez poem, I am Joaquin, to prepare them to begin reading and writing about poetry.
During lunch, the visiting high school students had a chance to learn about two Skyline College programs, Promise Scholars Program and EOPS. Albin Lee and Guillermo Alonzo shared information about the benefits of joining those support programs.
Students ended the day with a campus tour led by Outreach ambassadors Sarah, Gema, Luis. Discover Puente aimed to welcome the Herman@s cohorts and introduce them to the values that the Puente Learning Community provides: community, mentorship, culturally relevant curriculum, resources, and a village of support.
A thank you to everyone involved in the success of this event. Outreach office: Ryan Samn, Eric Imahara, Sarah, Gema, Luis. Dr. César Cruz, Ellen Murray, Lucia Lachmayr, Angela Serrano, Marisa Thigpen, Dino Garcia, Albin Lee, Guillermo Alonzo. Student Assistants, Miriam Gil-Alvarez and Crystal Rangel-Cruz. Herman@s instructors, Andrea Hernandez (SSFHS), Iveth Obeso Lopez (PHS), High School Counselors, Daniel Flores (SSFHS), Gustavo Lopez (PHS). 2024-2025 Puente cohort and Puente Panelists Randy Garcia, Francisco Sanchez, Brittney Lopez, Evelyn Huerta, Lilian Gutierrez, and Jose Cruz. PAC Dining, Event and Facilities team, Media Services, and all of the supporters who stopped by to visit our event.
Article written by Miriam Alvarez, Learning Communities Student Assistant, Marisa Thigpen, Learning Communities Program Services Coordinator, Angela Serrano, Puente Co-Coordinator & Counselor and Lucia Lachmayr, Puente Co-Coordinator & English Professor
Photos by Marisa Thigpen
