A new motivational conference at Fresno State on Saturday, March 17, will provide living examples of success, motivational speakers led by internationally known Maria Marin and other encouragement to help cut the percentage of Latino students who don’t earn a bachelor’s degree.

“¡Motívate! Discover Your Passion for Success,” is scheduled 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union. It will present a lineup of speakers led by Maria Marin, a talk-show host, writer, columnist and motivational figure in the Latino community.

The free, public event is organized by students who formed a club,¡Motívate! Society of Latino Motivators.

The club’s mission is to inspire young Latinos to seek and continue higher education while raising awareness of opportunities, telling student success stories and promoting the need for lower dropout rates, said founder Lucerito Salgado. She is a senior mass communications and journalism major (broadcast journalism and public relations emphasis).

Fresno State’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness reports Latino students make up 34 percent of Fresno State’s enrollment of 21,000 and have a 44.9 percent graduation success rate.

“Put in another way,” said Dr. Victor Olivares, a counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program and coordinator of its Summer Bridge Program, “about 55 percent depart from the university before earning a baccalaureate degree.”. Olivares also is president of the Fresno State Latino Faculty Staff Association at Fresno State, which advocates for Latino-student issues and works with university in addressing them.

Parents and community members are invited to attend the conference to receive information about educational opportunities such as internships, community service and volunteering. Salgado said the conference also will honor students from several Fresno State departments for their achievements.

¡Motívate! includes a website with video interviews of successful local Latinos and outreach campaigns on campus.

Cynthia Moreno, a journalist for Vida En El Valle, will be the emcee and host a “Success” panel discussion with Daniel Castro, former student inspired by teacher Jaime Escalante, the subject of the movie “Stand and Deliver.”

Other speakers are:

  • Martin Mares of Sanger, founder of the Ivy League Project that works to place Latino students in the nation’s best universities.
  • Pedro Ramírez, a former Fresno State student body president and undocumented resident who is a grad student at California State University, Long Beach.
  • Graciela Moreno, anchor for ABC 30.
  • Lisa Casarez, founder of Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency in Fresno.

Marin is best known for hosting the nationally syndicated Spanish radio show “El Show de María Marín” and writing a newspaper column and same-named best-seller, “Mujer Sin Límite (Women Unlimited),” the monthly magazine column “Supérate (Better Yourself)” and in People En Espanol. She has conducted seminars around the world and given numerous network television interviews.

Campus co-sponsors are University Outreach Services office, the College of Arts and Humanities, the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Associated Students Inc. and Commitment to Latina/o Academic Success and Excellence. Community co-sponsors are Vortal Me, Tacos Marquitos, Oaxaca restaurant, Central California Chamber of Commerce, Dog Prints, Impress Printing and Lety’s Decorations & Gifts.

Advance registration, which is advised, is available at  www.csufmotivate.com. Day-of-event registration will be 8-9 a.m.

For more information, contact Salgado at 805.363.7227 or Salgado_Lco@hotmail.com.