First Univision KMEX 34-Telefutura 46 “Feria Deja Huella” Welcomes 20,000 to CSU Dominguez Hills

The first Univision KMEX 34 and Telefutura 46 “Feria Deja Huella” (Leave Your Mark Fair) drew approximately 20,000 people to California State University, Dominguez Hills Saturday, Aug. 22. The Spanish language education fair – the first and largest such fair in Southern California – was part of Univision’s “Deja Huella Edúcate” (Leave Your Mark, Educate Yourself) campaign to increase the involvement of Spanish-speaking parents in their kids’ education, reduce the Latino dropout rate, and promote a college-going culture.

Designed to guide predominantly Spanish-speaking parents through the U.S. educational system, the Feria’s exhibits featured institutions from preschool to college. The fair also helped build awareness of the many nonprofit resources that are available to support families.

Pablo Lopez saw the Feria advertised on television and brought his three sons to the campus that day. His oldest son, 14-year-old Rene, has expressed interest in an engineering degree.

“I want to come back to school and learn English,” Lopez said. “But today, I want to see what education can do for my sons.”

The day’s activities included reading gardens, science activities, mentors and a visualization area for careers, vision and dental screenings and an immunization station.

Marie Damy, a student in the licensed vocational nurse program at St. Francis Career College in Lynwood, served as a volunteer in the visualization area. Along with a pharmacist, a police officer and a professional soccer player, she spent the day giving the children and youth in attendance a glimpse of her chosen career. She says that familial support is very important to students of all ages.

“My family is a very big support for me,” she says. “I would not have been able to do [school] without them. My mom, my dad, and my brothers, are all involved. I have a child and they all help a great deal with [raising] him. Since I live with my parents, they give me financial support as well.”

The example of older siblings attending and graduating from college is a great influence on young people in the Latino community. Jessie Garcia, a senior from Berlin High School in Bell Gardens, said that her older sister, who works in the computer industry, earned a degree at ITT Technical Institute. Attending the fair with her mother and two younger sisters, Garcia said that school counselors at Berlin had given her information and guidance toward her two possible degree choices of culinary arts or dentistry. She was focused on finding answers to help her decision along.

“I want to know how much [college] will cost,” she said. “Also, what do [schools] expect of me. And for me to be interested in them, what do they offer?”

Her sisters, who are still in elementary school, did not have many questions that day but her youngest sister Angelica was emphatic when asked what she wanted to become when she grew up. She replied without hesitation, “A doctor.” All the sisters were enthusiastic about the book giveaway.

Feria Deja Huella made history with the largest one-day book giveaway, distributing more than 25,000 books donated by the Molina Foundation and Mexican Consulate of Los Angeles. Additional promotions and activities were sponsored by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chivas USA and Univision Radio.

“CSU Dominguez Hills commends KMEX Univision 34 and KFTR TeleFutura 46 on their efforts to promote education and wellness within the Latino community,” said CSU Dominguez Hills President Mildred García. “CSU Dominguez Hills shares that commitment and we are extremely proud to [have hosted] this first ‘Feria Deja Huella.’ ”

The event was sponsored by Univision, the California State University system, CSU Dominguez Hills, First 5 LA, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, LA Universal Preschool and Preschool California.

- Brenda Knepper and Joanie Harmon