Parents and the new Summer Bridge students enter SSB and stop at the Registration table, eager for the proceedings to begin.
Anne Flanagan, Summer Bridge Coordinator and English instructor, and Naomi Crummey, SB English instructor, pause for a word on their way to the SSB meetings rooms.
LARES Director Leonard Ramirez greeted the new students and parents as they entered, and then made his way to the meeting rooms.
The meeting room filled slowly but steadily as the Orientation starting time approached.
Finally the time had arrived. LARES Counselor Cesiah Banuelos Robles opened the proceedings, welcoming the students and their families to UIC and the Summer Bridge.
After finishing her presentation, Cesiah introduced LARES Assistant Director Hugo Tuerel. Hugo spoke of LARES in general and of the Summer Bridge in specific.
LARES Counselor Roberto Rodriguez took pictures of the event. Those pictures will appear in LARES documents and on web pages.
Members of the LARES staff wait to be introduced. In the first row, from left to right, are Naomi Crummey, Anne Flanagan, and Luissette Gonzalez-Hernandez. In the second row are Luis Duarte, a barely visible Vanessa Padilla, and Cesiah Banuelos Robles .
LARES Counselors Luis Duarte and Alfredo Rueda made presentations. Each offered details of the Summer Bridge program and also of life at UIC.
The remaining topics were offered in both Spanish and English presentations. Students and family members were invited to attend the session of their choice. The English language presentation was lead by Luis Duarte. The topics covered included financial aid, course loads, jobs, classwork, and social life demands, among others.
Counselors Vanessa Padilla and Roberto Rodriguez also took part in this session. The advice they offered was well received and generated many interesting questions.
The presentations were concluded and the students and their families began to leave the meeting rooms. Some families stayed, seeking answers to specific questions. The counselors were happy to provide the answers.
The families soon found out why it is known that LARES is more than just a university organization. In true family style, the students and their families were treated to food and beverages. As the photos below show, the attendees really enjoyed themselves.
As do all things, this event came to a close. Monday the Summer Bridge sessions begin. The students are ready!