Our scholarships make it possible for students to take advantage of all the resources UCLA has to offer!
Since 1991, UCLA Latino Alumni Association (ULAA) has been awarding scholarships to Latina/o students. UCLA and our Association have been working diligently to recruit the best and brightest Latina/o students to UCLA. However, we hope to increase our endowment to be able to provide competitive financial aid packages that are reflective of the cost of a UCLA education.
We are very proud that ULAA has accumulated an endowment that provides financial assistance to deserving students. This would not have been possible without the generous support of past generations of alumni. Help us increase our endowment so that we can eliminate financial barriers for future generations of Latina/o students realizing their dream of attending UCLA.
Hispanic Heritage Month Message from HSI Director Elizabeth Gonzalez '13
Hispanic Heritage Month
Our favorite month of the year is finally here! Annually celebrated in the United States from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) remembers, recognizes and honors Hispanic Americans who have contributed to and enriched the history, culture and triumphs of the United States. Many organizations, such as the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution join this celebration and even offer unique exhibits and workshops that pay tribute to Hispanic Americans who have added to the already dense, unique and irrevocable Hispanic heritage in the United States. A video shared last year by the U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, breaks down the importance of HHM and highlights how, “The Hispanic community's success is also America’s success.”
The Hispanic population is very diverse. Each one of our Hispanic “antecedentes,” or people who have formed a part of the limitless potential of the Hispanic community, have helped contribute to the narrative of Hispanic Americans and continue to inspire the current and future Hispanic generations in the United States. Names like César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, Pedro Martínez and Carmen Herrera might sound familiar, but the list is endless!
Check out the National Hispanic Heritage Month Website to find virtual and online events that recognize, celebrate and spread awareness of the HHM in an effort to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have had a positive impact in our society. ¡Y a celebrar se ha dicho!
Message From HSI Director Elizabeth Gonzalez
Sept. 12–18, 2022, has been designated as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week by President Biden. Across the country, HSI educators, researchers and practitioners are celebrating their roles in serving the emerging majority.
While UCLA has not yet been designated an HSI by federal guidelines, it does not preclude us from engaging in "servingness." Many units and departments across campus, including but not limited to AAP, Transfer Student Center, First To Go Program, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, and the Chicano Studies Research Center, Community Partnerships Program and EAOP, have long been Hispanic-serving units and departments on the UCLA campus.
I invite you to engage in reflection and conversations about what it means for UCLA as an institution to serve Latina/o and low-income students. I recently did this by listening to the first episode of the ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? podcast by Dr. Gina Garcia. The podcast pushed me to think about our unique role as an R1 HSI and to challenge the hierarchies that may arise with the emergence of elite HSIs.
I also invite you to support and attend the various events happening across campus during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). Join us in strengthening the visibility and appreciation for HSI efforts across every corner of the UCLA campus!
Faculty, staff, administrators and alumni are warmly invited to partner in making the 2022 Latinx Welcome: Sembrando Comunidad a successful message of welcome and affirmation for Latinx students at UCLA. Please share the RSVP link with students! RSVP page for alumni is forthcoming.
Dr. Marcela Cuellar (Associate Professor, UC Davis) and Dr. Marla Franco (Associate Vice Provost, HSI Initiatives, University of Arizona), renowned scholars and administrators, will share innovative practices for research, teaching and service at Hispanic Serving Research Institutions. RSVP page will be emailed in late September.
We’d like to congratulate our very own scholarship recipient, Kobe Sanders, for being named to the National Association for Music Education board of directors (NAfME). He is serving as director of public outreach! Kobe seeks to break the stigma of low-income students pursuing degrees in the arts. Kobe is from the Coachella Valley and a second-year student majoring in music education.
Upcoming Events
Fundraiser: UCLA Latino Alumni Association Los Bruins Game — UCLA Football vs. South Alabama
We have partnered up with UCLA Athletics to celebrate the UCLA Latino Alumni Association during the UCLA Football vs. South Alabama game!
Help us grow our scholarship fund by purchasing a ticket or sharing the purchase link with your friends and family! This is the first partnership with UCLA Athletics and we hope to foster the relationship to provide great experiences for our members.
Note: Tickets purchased on the same transaction will be seated together.
Each ticket includes a Los Bruins T-Shirt that can be picked up at the Rose Bowl, just inside of the Gate A entrance during the first half of the game. T-shirt design is subject to change — size medium and XL ONLY.
For single-game buyers, T-shirts are only included when fans purchase tickets through our official Los Bruins Theme Game ticket link or the Los Bruins Theme Game ticket offer that UCLA Athletics is making available. Single-game buyers who purchase their tickets outside of these official “Theme Game” links are not eligible to purchase Los Bruins T-shirts as an add-on.
All sales are final.
Make sure to read up on Game Day Information including directions, parking and more.
Join the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) for Their Welcome BBQ
Support the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) at the David Geffen School of Medicine and Charles R. Drew University by attending their LMSA Welcome BBQ.
UCLA Planetarium: First Images From NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in Spanish and English
Missed their summer special? UCLA Planetarium will be kicking off their in-person shows for the 2022-2023 academic year with the same show, highlighting the James Webb Space Telescope's first images released this summer! Additionally, in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, their show will be presented in both Spanish and English, so bring your Spanish-speaking friends and family who are interested in learning more about the cool science the astronomy community is currently working on! Spread the word and reserve your FREE tickets today!
The hike is 4.3 miles and takes about two hours roundtrip at a leisurely pace. This hike will give you views of the Hollywood sign from afar (from Lake Hollywood Park) but also from behind the sign, where you will also get views of Lake Hollywood reservoir.
Level of difficulty: 5 out of 10. You can find a preview video of what the hike will look like here.
(They go to the observatory after the Hollywood Sign but we will not be doing that. We will head to the Hollywood Sign and come back down to Lake Hollywood Park).
Save the Date: ULAA Hike at Land Ends Trail in San Francisco
Head out on this 3.4-mile loop trail near San Francisco. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 hour, 32 minutes to complete.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 15 | 9 a.m.
RSVP page is forthcoming. Stay tuned to our Instagram for event updates: @latinobruins.
Save the Date: ULAA Happy Hour in San Jose
Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
Join UCLA Latino Alumni in the Bay Area for a happy hour in San Jose!
UCLA Latino Alumni Association Taquiza Tailgating at the Rose Bowl for UCLA vs. Stanford Football Game
There’s nothing better than catching up with Latino alumni over football, seasoning, rifas and more surprises that you’ll be muy happy about if you attend the ultimate Latino Bruins Taquiza Tailgate. We’re taking our passion to the Rose Bowl for the Oct. 29 game against “Estanford” and we want you there with us! UCLA Football kicked off the season with a 45–17 win — our energy and support for our athletes can help keep the momentum going. Re-live your tailgating experiences and take the opportunity to connect with Latino alumni and build your bonds over team spirit or a margarita.
We know food is key to any Latino gathering, and tailgating is NO exception. L.A. has a million variations of tacos (some more acceptable than others) but we’ll be enjoying traditional tacos like carne asada and al pastor at our aptly named taquiza tailgate. After all, tacos al pastor have been determined to be the best food on earth, something you already knew. In an effort to keep your Instagram game strong — and to maintain the Latino Bruin reputation — we will have a taquero present. The meal will be included with your ticket but feel free to bring cash to show our taqueros some Bruin love.
Taquiza Tailgate Tips
Latino energy is unmatched; don’t forget the pom-poms, Bruin gear and maybe even some sunscreen!
Pace yourselves! We want this to be reminiscent of your early tailgate parties, just with some more prudent drinking limits. When you think Bruin nation, think hydration.
Photo sharing is caring — tag Latino Bruins on social media! @LatinoBruins
COVID hasn’t disappeared. Remember to stay home if you’re feeling unwell or if you have been exposed to COVID. Lo siento.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! We’ll be celebrating our team at the tailgate, but we are also celebrating ourselves. Be orgullOSOS/proud of who you are no matter where you’re at in your Bruin journey.
Exact details of where the tailgate is taking place will be announced in the follow-up email after you register. We also plan on creating a group chat to help you find us the day of the event.
*Net proceeds from the event will go towards the ULAA Scholarship Fund*
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to President Cesar Pacheco at latino@bruins.ucla.edu.
Event Recaps
SLAA SoCal/CAL/UCLA Networking Mixer at Nativo in Highland Park
Thanks to all who joined us Friday, Aug. 26, for our Networking Mixer, together with our friends from Stanford Latino Alumni Association, The Alliance for Latinx Management at Anderson and UC Berkeley LBSA Alumni Fund. Held at a great venue, Nativo in Highland Park, we had about 80 alumni come together to meet and connect. If you couldn’t join us, keep an eye out for more activities to come.
UCLA Latino Alumni Association Board Retreat
On Saturday, Aug. 27, our board met at the James West Alumni Center to discuss our goals for this year. We are excited to continue our efforts in fundraising for our scholarship fund, student and alumni engagement. We are excited to serve with these passionate Latino Bruins.
UCLA Latino Alumni Association’s New Bruin Send-offs Recap by Past ULAA Secretary Carlos Almendárez
On Sunday, Aug. 28, approximately 60 students, parents and alumni gathered to show incoming freshman and transfer students that our community comes together. I had the pleasure of attending the UCLA Latino Alumni Association's New Bruin Send-off, where newly admitted students and their families got to meet current students and alumni.
It was so inspiring to see parents beaming with pride over their child’s admission to UCLA. One family arrived at the event with every member of the family wearing a UCLA shirt that described their support: UCLA mamá, UCLA papá, UCLA abuela, UCLA hermano. Impressive! Our community is so diverse. Some new admits arrived with two parents who attended UCLA while others were the first in their family to attend college. What they had in common: all were proud of what their children had accomplished.
I recall reading a cheesy quote that in particular resonated with me today. The quote was that “your future is created by what you do today.” Meeting new admits who graduated from high school a few weeks ago really reminded me of how fortunate I am to be on this side of things. I am now “future me.” I am a high school grad, college grad, and law school grad…and now I’m the old alumni guy answering the questions of 18-year-olds. I am now the guy that I never would have imagined being in 1999. I am thankful to be in a position to be able to share my story and thoughts with the next generation. I am optimistic that the next generation is smarter, hungrier and has the tools that past generations could only dream of. I am fortunate to be a part of an organization where students and families can celebrate in English and Spanish and start their higher education journey whether that is a well-traveled road (several generations of their family attended UCLA) or those who, like me, took the road less traveled as a first-generation college student. Thanks for the good times UCLA Latino Alumni Association!”
Volunteer Opportunities
Join a Committee
Send us an email latino@alumni.ucla.edu to express your interest in joining a committee. Committees meet virtually. Time commitment varies from one hour to five hours depending on how involved you want to be.
To learn more about committees please visit our alumni website.
UCLA Latino Alumni Association Taquiza Tailgating at the Rose Bowl for UCLA vs. Stanford Football Game
If you plan on attending the tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 29, we would appreciate your support with the following: 1) additional equipment and supplies such as canopies and tables; 2) alumni greeters and hosts; 3) setting up and decorating; 4) cleaning up before kick off; and 5) most importantly, your presence.
If you would like to volunteer please reach out at latino@alumni.ucla.edu to express your interest.
Job Opportunities
The UCLA Latino Alumni Association believes in the advancement of the Latino community and strives to create meaningful professional and social connections. If you're looking to recruit UCLA Latino alumni at your company, please send a brief job description (use description below as an example) with the link to the application and your contact information to latino@alumni.ucla.edu before the seventh day of each month.
Apartment Maintenance Technician, Thomas Safran & Associates
Now hiring experienced apartment maintenance technicians, positions in multiple locations. Salaries range from $24 per hour to $30 per hour and are based on skills, experience and seniority.
UCLA ONE
Looking for ways to volunteer virtually? We can use your skills to guide the next generation of professionals! You can join our UCLA ONE Latino Alumni group here.
To indicate you’d like to mentor or network, please click on your profile picture -> Edit Profile -> Click boxes that apply under “Offer/Seek Help” section.
