CSUB - HACU Travel Scholarship

"Attending a HACU conference gave me a sense of community. I was able to see myself through the interns, the workers, and the students, and we all shared similar stories. What really made it a memorable experience for me was that the speakers had different backgrounds, the same as many Hispanic parents. It really showed me that it is possible to achieve dreams; no obstacle is too big. A big eye opener for me was when President of HACU, Dr. Antonio Flores showed everyone statistics of HSI universities regarding enrollment rates rising, population in colleges and universities, and graduates. My favorite workshop was on imposter syndrome. The speaker went through different points: "What is imposter syndrome?" What does it look like? Why is it problematic? "And how to overcome it?" I learned that to overcome imposter syndrome, I had to first acknowledge it and build the path for the next minority by breaking down the barriers."

"During the conference, I was able to build relationships not only with the CSUB members but also with students and staff from different HSIs. Connecting with other students was easy because we all shared many goals, but the main one was proving it was possible. I believe that connecting with people who have similar goals and the same mindset will help you thrive further, especially when you're surrounded by the support and networks you make along the way. I encourage others to try and attend this conference because you will be surrounded by people with great minds, people that want to see us do better, and lots of internship opportunities for you to leave with. If you are a STEM or business major, I highly encourage you to apply because this conference might benefit you the most with internships. CSUB should keep sending student cohorts because they are opening the door to new opportunities for us. At the end of the conference, we will all have gained different perspectives, networked with different people, and expanded our skill set. It is important for us as students to explore different careers and talk to people with similar experiences and goals." - Fatyma Cendejas - HACU's 36th Annual Conference Delegation

"Attending HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) was a privilege and a highlight of my undergraduate academic career. My 3 biggest major takeaways would be the ability to network and meet folks from various states that you may never think would have a community of Latinx people. Another big takeaway would be the (what seems like) endless future career opportunities you get to learn about while going through workshops and the exhibit hall. Lastly, although the year I went it was not a big cohort, being able to experience the conference alongside fellow CSUB (California State University, Bakersfield) students who may or may not have the same majors as you give the opportunity to get to know them more and foster that sense of community that will undoubtedly be brought back to campus after the conference."

"My favorite workshop was hosted by Sodexo, which is a company that prides themselves on improving the quality of life through the many services they offer. Their panel was made up of 4 individuals who shared their lived experiences, so I felt like I was able to connect and see myself in them. The trip was amazing as well as being able to explore the city after the conference. I am a foodie, so I took advantage of being in a new city and trying amazing dishes and desserts. I really encourage anyone who can attend to go as I believe CSUB offering to take a cohort of students is beneficial and will help you grow as a student and person. You might even find a new career interest or meet a lifelong friend. The possibilities for attending the conference are endless. These are all reasons why CSUB should continue to send students to HACU." - Brianna Santaella | Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies  - HACU's 36th Annual Conference Delegation