Latina Theta Nu, the Latina-based sorority at Sacramento State, organized the 10th annual Latina Youth Leadership Conference to empower middle and high school girls and to support them in their quest for college on Friday in the University Ballroom.

“The purpose (for) our annual Latina youth conference is to show young Latina girls that it’s always possible to get to college. There are some struggles that we face – money wise, migrant status for some of us- but it’s always possible. You just have to go out there and look at all the possibilities,” said Cristina Mendoza, Lambda Theta Nu 2010 alumna.

About eight schools brought over 160 girls to participate in the event, Mendoza said.

The conference consisted of workshops, performances and a keynote speaker, who spoke to the girls at the conference about her experience at Sac State and the hardships she endured to become who she is today.

Lambda Theta Nu had seven of their members perform a strolling dance and a stepping with machetes for the girls.

This dance symbolized the girls’ culture and strength as Latinas, and was just one of the events that took place at the conference.

At the end of the conference, four of the sorority’s members shared their individual experiences at Sac State with the girls in the audience and answered any questions from the audience about their experiences in a question and answer panel.

The main attractions of the conference were the workshops that were held.

“I believe the highlight of the event was the workshops because it’s when the girls get to really hear about what they can do in the future,” said Seyda Elias, senior pre-nursing health science major.

One workshop centered on finances and college loans, credit, how to save money and other finance related topics.

“Being financially stable is something that’s very important, so I think the workshop would really hit home and hopefully made an impact on the girls,” Elias said.

The second workshop discussed Sac State’s College Assistance Migrant Program and the third centered on self-esteem.

“Personally (my favorite part) is seeing all these young minds come and gain the experience of how it feels to be on a college campus. To see the teachers who are very interested for (the kids) to get higher education is just very inspiring,” Elias said.

Cayla Gales can be reached at [email protected]