Students for Latinx Empowerment (SLE) is a student-led University of Georgia organization dedicated to providing resources to Hispanic high school students with the goal of a higher college enrollment rate. SLE held their fourth annual ¡Sigueme!, a full day event that connects Hispanic high school students to UGA, in the Tate Grand Hall on Feb. 13, 2026.
Around 50 students from Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School attended the event. The schools’ college and career counselors were excited for their students to envision themselves in a higher education setting and open up new pathways to economic mobility in the future.
“Sometimes this stuff doesn’t feel really catered towards them,” Alejo Zayas, college and career advisor from Clarke Central High School, said, “I didn’t have a mentor like that at all… so I think it’s really great they are already aware of all the things that are out there for them.”
Students attended ¡Sigueme! from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to create a full immersive experience at UGA. SLE mentors wanted to have as much time as possible to share their high education process and build connections.
The event included a tour, mock-class lecture, engagement fair and graduate panel. They offered in-depth information on FAFSA, scholarship options and the application process to not only UGA but also other universities and trade schools. This comprehensive approach aims to demystify what may feel like a daunting transition from high school to college.
“We’re honestly encouraging any avenue to further themselves, and stepping stones to help them realize that it doesn’t have to be this huge goal of Harvard, but it can be going to Kennesaw State University or Gwinnett Tech,” Maria Rodriguez, SLE president and senior landscape architecture major, said.
Anna Tamez, left, and Miriam Ramirez pose for a photo at Students for Latinx Empowerment’s ¡Sígueme! event at the University of Georgia Tate Student Center in Athens, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. SLE invites high school students from nearby counties to ¡Sígueme! to experience a day in the life of a UGA student. (Photo/Evan Frilingos; @frilingos.photos)
Creating a support system both academically and socially for Hispanic students is another very important goal of SLE. They host other community building events like letter writing and salsa night.
Kimberly Castro, senior biology major and SLE community outreach coordinator, comes from a marginalized high school and is a first generation college student. A program similar to SLE helped her apply to UGA. She now hopes to be a mentor in the same way she was encouraged.
“Because I saw other Hispanics in the roles that I thought maybe weren’t possible, I thought, ‘I could do this,’” Castro said.
Other organizations for Latin American and Hispanic students, like UGA’s Hispanic Student Association, presented tables at the engagement fair to show how much support is out there for them.
Roberto Rios, a representative from the Hispanic Student Association, said that the organization’s main goal on campus is to “create a space for Hispanic and Latino students to come together and be a community.”
Valeria Rodriguez, sophomore criminal justice major and the SLE volunteer coordinator, originally planned on joining the military to obtain an inexpensive higher education, but after learning about scholarship opportunities, she was able to attend UGA. She hopes to help people in a similar position to her learn about their other options.
“Showing students that just because you come from this background doesn’t mean you have to have the same story,” Rodriguez said. “You can write your own story.”
