The Rio Hondo’s Hispanic Scholarship Fund held an open questionnaire session with a panel of three established college graduates on Monday, April 15, at the student services offices,

The session included a panel with Russell Castaneda Calleros, currently with the Government & Community Relations at Rio and has a M.P.P from Harvard and B.A from Stanford, Fernando Cabrera, an Auditor at Ernest & Young with a Bachelors in Arts in Business Administration, and Mike Munoz, currently the acting Dean of Counseling and Student Services at Rio Hondo College and a graduate from Cal State LA and Cal State Long Beach with a Bachelors for Psychology & Social Behavior, a Master’s Degree for Counseling and a Doctorate for Educational Leadership.

All three graduates provided different answers for the people at the session but all conveyed the same message.

“To be successful in college, you have to have a strong work ethic, good navigational skills and an influential support center.” Calleros was quoted as saying. “Taking advantage of the counselors that are in the school and getting ready for college early is also important. Dating around for classes is also a growing aspect.”

For Fernando Cabrera, his most important message was going out there and looking. “Working was really important for me. Earning experience or getting your feet wet and performing well.”

For money, Mike chipped in for the most optimal way of getting it. “Looking for scholarships. Finding for secret scholarships on the web or looking for resources for money. I went around looking for months looking for scholarships and special programs for my daughter and I that can accodommate me and my daughter.”

Another meeting for the Latino Scholarship fund will be held on April 28, at the student services center. Any questions for opportunities for the fund, contact Cynthia Morales, Student Life & Leadership at (562) 908-3427 or [email protected].