News
Release
For Immediate Release
10-22-2010
FOR
MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
ANSON SMITH AT 203-332-5229 OR
ADRIANA CEDENO AT 203-522-6952
CUTLINE: Housatonic Community College student and Stratford resident
Adriana Cedeno (left) was joined at the White House Executive order signing by
HCC President Anita T. Gliniecki.
HCC STRATFORD STUDENT ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE-ORDER SIGNING
Meets President Obama
Says President “A
Real Person”
BRIDGEPORT – For Housatonic Community College
student Adriana Cedeno of Stratford, Tuesday, Oct. 19, is a day she
will not forget.
It was the day that she met President Barack Obama, had her picture
taken him, and was one of a dozen people who stood next to Obama in
the East Room of the White House when he signed an executive order
extending the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for
Hispanic Americans. That measure seeks to improve the educational experience
of Latinos.
“It was a historic moment,” she said. “The initiative will
open doors for people like me and members of my family.”
Hispanics, she noted, make up the largest minority in schools today,
more than one in five. Yet, they’re more likely to attend the
lowest performing schools, attend the largest classes, and drop out
at higher rates than the rest of the population.
The initiative, she said, will address these problems.
The mission of the initiative, Obama said, is expanding educational
opportunities and improving educational outcomes for Hispanics of all
ages and helping to ensure that all Hispanics receive a complete and
competitive education that prepares them for college, a career, and
productive and satisfying lives.
Toward this end, the initiative will help ensure that Federal programs
and initiatives are serving and meeting the needs of Hispanics. The
initiatives staff will work closely with the Executive Office of the
president on priorities related to the education of Hispanics, and
assist with the development, implementation, and coordination of educational
programs and initiatives designed to improve educational opportunities
and outcomes for Hispanics.
Not only was Cedeno impressed by the president’s efforts to help
Hispanics, she was impressed by the President himself. “He wasn’t
at all what I expected a president to be like,” she said. “He
wasn’t distant or stand-offish. He came across as a real person;
he looked you in the eyes when he spoke to you.”
“At one point, when we were walking to the East Room, he was whistling,” she
said.
Cedeno, who was chosen to attend the signing based on her academic
achievement and co-curricular involvements at HCC, was flattered by
her selection.
“It’s an honor and a true blessing to me and my family,” she
said. “Something like this doesn’t happen to everyone. To be selected
from so many students at the college is unbelievable!”
Housatonic Community College provides an affordable and accessible
education through two-year degrees, transfer preparation, and certificate
programs, as well as a wide variety of continuing education and personal/professional
enrichment seminars and workshops. In addition, HCC provides
employee and occupational training for businesses, municipalities,
government agencies, and professional associations to help develop
the educated and skilled workforce required to meet regional business
and industry needs. HCC is nationally recognized as an “Achieving
the Dream” institution. To learn more, visit the college’s
website at: www.hcc.commnet.edu <http://www.hcc.commnet.edu> .
HCC is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less
than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from
the Arena at Harbor Yard. Free parking is available in the Housatonic
garage.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu