AG
Amanda Gonzalez
  • Elementary Education
  • Class of 2014
  • Derby, CT

Eastern Student Amanda Gonzalez of Derby Member of OLAS

2012 Mar 1

Amanda Gonzalez '14 of Derby, CT, is a member of the Organization for Latin American Students (OLAS) at Eastern Connecticut State University. Gonzalez is a Pre-Elementary Education major.

The purpose of OLAS is to assist in the educational success of Latinos on Eastern's campus and to inform the campus community about the Hispanic culture. OLAS was active this past fall as six members attended the Latinos in Higher Education Conference at Central Connecticut State University in November. Ten OLAS members attended the Riverfront Recapture Retreat in Hartford, and more than 20 members participated in a presentation on campus in October by INROADS, a Hartford-based nonprofit agency committed to providing underserved youth with career services. The club also sponsored a fundraiser in October, selling "Limbel," a Latino frozen fruit juice dessert.

More than 30 percent of the full-time students enrolled at Eastern now participate in at least one club/organization, an increase of almost 10 percent since fall 2008. Students who participate in clubs/organizations excel in the classroom and do better academically than students who do not participate. In spring 2011, 1,345 full-time students participating in clubs had an average GPA of 3.06, much higher than the 2.84 average for those students not taking part in any of the nearly 70 clubs/organizations.

Clubs/organizations planned and implemented almost 600 events last academic year. These programs have a direct impact on the daily life of all students on Eastern's campus. The programs range from social to educational, physical to spiritual, and civic engagement programs that equally affect the community.

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves approximately 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations.