By: Cathy Anaya-Wolf
Palm Beach County Director
ASPIRA of Florida
On April 16, 2010 the ASPIRA Club at Palm Beach State College was honored at the College's annual Academic/Service Excellence Awards Ceremony. The ASPIRA Club recieved the "Student Organization of the Year Award" for conducting successful ASPIRA events in the areas of community involvement, political awareness, and for their progressive support of the College's initiatives.
The ASPIRA Club at Palm Beach State College began its journey five years ago with a group of ASPIRANTES (ASPIRA Youth members) who wanted to continue implementing the leadership skills and sense of community service that they obtained while participating in the ASPIRA programs at their respective high schools. Under the guidance of our PBSC campus liaison, then Olivia Morris-Ford and presently Barbara Maties along with the ASPIRA Advisor, Erica Batista, the group partnered with other clubs throughout the campus such as Student Government, Black Student Union, Kisqueya, and S.W.E.R.to host many events and community service projects on campus.
The ASPIRA Club members have through the years raised money for many worthy causes including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Relay for Life. Recently, they ran a drive for the Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign and were able to donate 185 cell phones. . Additional activities include volunteering their time to the ASPIRA Muchachas and Muchachos Conferences, International Coastal Cleanup at Jupiter Beach, Quantum House, Hispanic Chamber Gala, and the Give a Day, Get a Day United Way Community Service Project.
Finally, for the past three years they have sponsored aspiring Latino Artists by hosting gallery exhibitions on campus as well as taken on issues such the Hispanic Serving Institutions (HIS), Dream Act, and recently hosted it First Annaul Volunteer Expo on Lake Worth Campus bringing in more then 18 organizations to provide literature of community resources to college students.