The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine named Sacramento State as one of the top schools for Hispanic students. The sixth annual “Publisher?s Pick’s” was published in the second issue of November.

“I’m delighted to learn of it and I’m very proud of the diversity of students at this school,” said President Donald Gerth.

Each year the questionnaires are mailed out in March to the presidents and the public relations department of each school. The questions are based on Hispanic involvement and vary from faculty enrollment to graduation rates including programs offered by the school and any special projects offered.

The questionnaires are evaluated by an independent group based on at least a ten percent enrollment of Hispanic students in each school.

“The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education is distributed to about 7000 high school guidance counselors,” said Susan Lopez-Isa, managing editor of the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.”The goal is to help promote Hispanic enrollment in higher education. It helps the counselors guide their students and families to choose Hispanic friendly schools,” Lopez-Isa said.

The many programs Sac State offers ranges from student run organizations like Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano de Aztlan (MECHA) and The Chicano Latino Grad Committee to the nationwide College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP).

“MECHA is about empowering our community and encouraging high school students to attend college,” said Chico Gonzalez a senior majoring in Spanish and Art and a member of MECHA.MECHA holds events such as the Chicano Art Festival, which hosts upcoming Chicano artists.

They also sponsor programs like MECHA in the Barrio, which is a program that works with the community and children. Members go out to the community to tutor children or organize toy and can food drives for local centers. Events and programs offered are free and open to the public.CAMP is a program for students that are migrant, seasonal farm workers or that have parents that are.

“The program was developed to recruit and assist students in seeking a higher education,” said Connie Ayala, a retention counselor in CAMP.

The program offers students a computer lab, a study center and tutoring sessions. Students can also receive academic and personal advising and assistant in seeking financial aid.