Pascual Mariscal didn’t have much leadership experience when he enrolled at Yakima Valley College in 2024. Fortunately, thanks to the college’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Relevance Project grant, YVC is helping students like Mariscal gain new skills that will benefit them in the workforce and in the community.
The new student leadership program aims to empower students by providing essential funding to develop their leadership skills and prepare them to make a positive impact in their communities.
“The program has helped me learn to be more of a leader,” said Mariscal, who plans to transfer after completing his degree at YVC in 2026 and study education. “Before I came into these workshops, I didn’t know how to be a leader, but the workshops have really helped me be more confident and speak out more.”
Empowering CAMP students
For the initial rollout of the leadership program, which began in the fall of 2024, YVC focused its efforts on engaging students enrolled in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).
“These students represent a cross-section of Latinx and low-income populations that the grant supports, and we wanted them to have access to equitable opportunities of leadership development,” said Keith Reyes, a sociology instructor who played a key role in developing YVC’s grant proposal.
According to Reyes, one of the goals of the grant is to create opportunities for students, staff and faculty to develop leadership skills for creating and sustaining an inclusive HSI college environment that builds Latinx and low-income students’ sense of identity and belonging in postsecondary education and careers.
For CAMP director Marivy Vasquez, the student leadership initiative is advancing the goals of her program.
"The program has been such a transformative experience for CAMP students, equipping them with the confidence, skills and support needed to become leaders in their communities,” said Vasquez. “Through mentorship and hands-on opportunities, they are empowered to advocate for themselves and others, creating a lasting impact far beyond the program."
TOP: Instructor Keith Reyes gives a lecture during a sociology class. ABOVE: CAMP students pose for a selfie during the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute’s
national conference in Chicago in February 2025.
The program also helped send 10 CAMP students, along with two staff, to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute’s (USHLI) national conference in Chicago in February. The conference, one of the premier Hispanic leadership conferences in the nation, included prominent speakers, interactive forums on culturally relevant topics and workshops on how to effect change. More than 5,000 students, educators and young professionals representing 35 states attended.
"The conference empowered me to strengthen my advocacy work by connecting it to my academic journey." — Heidy Lemus Alvarado, student
Student Cristal Vergara Hernandez, who will graduate from YVC’s medical assisting program later this year, was especially moved by the experience.
“This conference helped us be aware of what we are capable of doing, what to fight for and reinforced to not limit ourselves on goals,” said Vergara Hernandez. “My favorite part was how mostly all the speakers used to be one of us, sitting at the same tables and attending the conference. It makes you realize that we all can become the person that can help guide the future generations.”
CAMP student Heidy Lemus Alvarado shares information on her experience at the national
USHLI conference during a reception in late February 2025.
The experience will help support Vergara Hernandez in her future goal of working in the local medical field and inspired her to become a change maker.
“We are not alone,” she said. “The conference really opened my perspective of seeing things and it also made me more aware that there are people who fight to make a change. If they see there’s something wrong, they fight. We are a big community, and we can make a change.”
"My favorite about the conference was hearing many Hispanic leaders speak about their personal and career journey to showcase that all Latino’s can reach their dreams and be in those leadership positions as well." — Jaylene Munoz-Chavez, student
This leadership program is part of a larger initiative supported by the grant, which also funds a career-readiness program and a campus wellness program. YVC, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) since 2002, serves a diverse student body, with over two-thirds identifying as persons of color.
CAMP students share some thoughts about their recent trip during a reception.
Engaging sessions and mentorship
Students are invited to participate in two sessions each quarter — fall, winter and spring —covering topics such as fostering a sense of belonging, developing their individual leadership style and overcoming imposter syndrome. Additionally, they receive mentorship from Reyes, Counselor Elizabeth DeVilleneuve and fellow YVC students, further enhancing their leadership journey.
“I personally found the mentorship most helpful because those individuals made it easy to get along with them and get to know more of their background, as well as why they’re in the program,” said Mariscal.
Reyes emphasizes the significance of offering experiences for students like Mariscal.
“These students haven’t had many opportunities to explore their identities,” said Reyes. “Providing them with these opportunities is crucial for their personal and professional growth.”
In the spring, students will take the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) survey to assess their cultural sensitivity and promote cultural competence.
Instructor Keith Reyes, left, advises a student during a recent Advising Day event.
Impact and future vision
So far, 42 students have benefited from mentorship and leadership opportunities through this program.
Initially set on a career in radiologic sciences, YVC student Vanessa Contreras completed all her prerequisites only to discover that she was missing a crucial class. This setback didn't deter her; instead, she found a fulfilling role as a behavioral health assistant, working with young people. This experience sparked an interest in psychology and social work, leading her to consider a shift in her career path. Currently, she is finishing her associate degree with plans to transfer to Central Washington University to further her studies.
“I felt like me being confused about my area of study was going to make me withheld and stop me from studying, but I came to find out by those workshops [that] so, so many leaders went through the same thing,” said Contreras.
The support Contreras received from YVC's student leadership initiative has been invaluable. As a first-generation college student, she faced many uncertainties about resumes, cover letters and financial aid. The workshops and advising sessions provided clarity and encouragement, showing her that many leaders had faced similar challenges.
"I want to become more involved in my community as a leader. Ie setting up stuff and creating just not joining." — Juan Angel Munguia, student
“It was empowering to me, knowing people from my same background or even born where my family was born pursued and are pursuing dreams and breaking barriers,” said Contreras. “Hearing and being present in his presentation gave me hope for my career knowing I will have a support system and knowing that without failure there is no success.”
For Mariscal, he’s hoping to take the skills he’s learned to help inspire the next generation.
“I want to become a successful teacher and would like to be able to retain all of the knowledge I learn to pass it down to a younger generation,” said Mariscal.
Reyes hopes to expand the program to include more students in the future.
“My vision is to have a fully vetted, robust and selective process for student participation,” he said. “This is a trial run, and we are figuring out the capacity we can build on.”
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations, Juan Padilla, public relations student assistant and courtesy of Marivy Vasquez.
Yakima Valley College receives grant to support student success
In 2023 Yakima Valley College was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support student success, particularly for Hispanic students and those from low-income households. The grant is being used to fund three interconnected programs: a career-readiness program, a leadership learning community and a campus wellness program. Read More