Juan Guzman
UNK Office of Multicultural Affairs director, 308.865.8127
UNK– More than 300 high school students from as far west as Scottsbluff to as far east as Ralston will attend the 8thannual Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference (NCUC) on Friday, March 26, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
“The goal of the conference is to inspire these students and to inform them that the obstacles they may face can be overcome and that they have the potential to become college graduates,” said Juan Guzman, UNK Office of Multicultural Affairs director. Opening the event along with Guzman will be UNK students Alex Morales of Overton and Monica Arroyo of Schuyler. Student co-chairs for the event are Cristal Grado of Gibbon and Latisha Dominguez of Lubbock, Texas.
According to Guzman, NCUC is designed to promote higher education for all high school students through workshops, discussions and speakers. Activities are scheduled from 8:30 a.m.-8:15 p.m. in the Nebraskan Student Union. Among the workshops students can attend are “Unmasking Your Identity,” “Changing the Face of America,” “Runway Professionalism” and “Lifelong Choices.”
Students will also hear presentations by two keynote speakers– Ed Kabotie, a Native American musician and artist, and Pegine Echevarria, an award-winning motivational speaker. Kabotie will speak at 1:45 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room, and Echevarria, at 7 p.m.
Kabotie, a Hopi Native American, is from the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico and the Hopi village of Shungopavi. Santa Clara is well-known for red and black pottery. Kabotie specializes in etch work, and he often collaborates with relatives who produce fine polished pottery. In addition, Kabotie creates paintings, silver jewelry and carvings.
Kabotie’s grandfather Edward Dozier was an anthropologist who inspired Kabotie to research and write about Native American history. Kabotie, who is also a percussionist, has recently released a seven-song demo CD that features his own bilingual compositions accompanied by acoustic guitar and native flute.
Echevarria, is the author of “Sometimes You Need to Kick Your Own Butt” and creator of the corporate licensed program, “White Guys Are Diverse, Too.” She is one of 58 inductees in the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame and the first Latina woman to be inducted.
According to her website biography, Echevarria was a gang member, president of a direct sales company and owned two businesses in Spain before the age of 23. Echevarria is described as a high energy, humorous and powerful speaker who goes to great and entertaining lengths to inspire, motivate and educate her audience.
NOTE TO MEDIA: To assist you in planning coverage, the Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference schedule of events is listed below:
8:30-10 a.m. – Registration and College Fair. (Nebraskan Student Union Atrium)
10-10:20 a.m. – Conference Opening (Ponderosa Room): UNK students Alex Morales of Overton and Monica Arroyo ofSchuyler, and Juan Guzman, UNK Office of Multicultural Affairs director.
10:30-11:15 a.m. – Workshop Sessions – UNK Myth Busters (Room 312); Runway Professionalism (Room 310); Don’t Forget Your Roots (Sandhills Room); Army ROTC (Martin Hall); Lifelong Choices (Multicultural Center); Unmasking Your Identity (Cedar Room); and Changing the Face of America (Sisler Room)
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Workshop Sessions – UNK Myth Busters (Room 312); Runway Professionalism (Room 310);Don’t Forget Your Roots (Sandhills Room); Army ROTC (Martin Hall); Lifelong Choices (Multicultural Center); Unmasking Your Identity (Cedar Room); and Changing the Face of America (Sisler Room)
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Lunch (Ponderosa Room)
1:30-1:45 p.m. – UNK Welcome (Ponderosa Room) – Dr. Gail Zeller, dean of Student Affairs.
1:45-2:30 p.m. – Keynote Speaker (Ponderosa Room) – Ed Kabotie
2:45-3:30 p.m. – Workshop Sessions – UNK Myth Busters (Room 312); Runway Professionalism (Room 310);
Don’t Forget Your Roots (Sandhills Room); Travel Your Journey (Martin Hall); Lifelong Choices (Multicultural Center);
Unmasking Your Identity (Cedar Room); and Changing the Face of America (Copeland Hall Room 140)
4-5:15 p.m. – Gender Sessions — (Fine Arts Building Studio Theater) males; (Copeland Hall Room 142) females
5:30-6:30 p.m. – Dinner (Ponderosa Room)
6:30-7 p.m. – Awards and Recognition (Ponderosa Room)
7-8 p.m. – Keynote speaker (Ponderosa Room), Pegine Echevarria
8-8:15 p.m. – Closing Remarks: Latisha Dominguez of Lubbock, Texas, and Cristal Grado of Gibbon, Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference committee student co-chairs.
