Coastal Carolina University will host a South Carolina Latinx Student Summit on Thursday, April 28, from 6-8 p.m. in the Clark and Marcia Parker Atheneum Hall Alumni Center, Alford Ballroom. The event, which is free to the public but requires advance registration, celebrates the importance of education as a tool for empowerment and professional development. To register for the summit, click here. Seating is limited, and priority is given to students. The summit will also be livestreamed on the S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs’ (SCCMA) Facebook page.

The event’s theme is “Forging New Pathways,” highlighting the importance of uniting CCU students and high school students with members of the Horry County Latinx community. Participants will learn about available financial and economic resources in the community and will have the opportunity to network with fellow students and area professionals.

“The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CCU is thrilled to partner with the Hispanic/Latino Affairs division of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs to foster educational development and career advancement,” said Atiya Kai Stokes-Brown, Ph.D., CCU’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion. “This summit aligns with our institutional efforts to promote a culture of equity and inclusion and enhance educational experiences for Latinx students at CCU and in the state.”

The summit’s keynote speaker is CCU alumna Miriam Berrouet ’99, owner/operator of Bilingual Connections and an advisory board member for the SCCMA Hispanic/Latino Affairs division. Berrouet is a qualified interpreter for the state of South Carolina and interprets in criminal, family, and magistrate courts as well as local schools, hospitals, and other agencies. She was named 2020 Volunteer of the Year by the city of Myrtle Beach.

“The Commission for Minority Affairs is excited to work with an institution of higher education located in an area with significant growth for the Latinx community,” said Ivan Segura, program manager for the SCCMA Hispanic/Latino Affairs division. “We also see this as an opportunity to create new pathways for the development of the Latinx community and our youth.”

La Beca Summit Scholarships will be awarded during the event. To be eligible, Latinx college students are asked to respond to the following question in their registration form: “How will you use your education to advocate for the Latinx community in South Carolina?”

The Latinx Student Summit is organized by SCCMA in collaboration with CCU and Palmetto Luna Arts.