Mendocino College is a Proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
For the last decade, the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students has increased at Mendocino College. Currently, approximately 40% of our student body identifies as Hispanic/Latino or of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
What does it mean to be an HSI?
Higher Education Institutions, such as Mendocino College, may be designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) when at least 25% of its undergraduate full-time equivalent students are of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
The word “Hispanic” is the term utilized by the Federal Government; since the HSI designation comes from the Federal Government, the term Hispanic-Serving Institution is utilized to refer to any student with ties to Latin America or other Spanish-speaking countries.
Embracing our HSI Designation
As a college, we are committed to providing students the support Hispanic/Latino students need to be successful in their academic, career, and personal journeys.
For those of us who work at Mendocino College, this includes fostering a sense of belonging, value, support, and advocacy to our Hispanic/Latino Student population while also feeling valued and supported by Mendocino College.
For our students, this means having the ability to find faculty and staff members who understand and acknowledge the rich experiences, strengths, and values that each person brings with them. We encourage students to step onto the college as their authentic selves, celebrating their identities and the cultural wealth students bring to with them into the classroom in the form of familial support, dichos (sayings), and cultural and ancestral knowledge.
Annual Events/ Eventos Anuales
The Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Event Planning Committee puts on two events during the academic year. This includes the Dia De Los Muertos Event in the Fall, which is open to community members, and the Latino Student Retreat, which is offered in the Spring and is geared towards high school students from across the Lake and Mendocino area.
SPANISH:
El Comité de Planificación organiza dos eventos durante el año académico: el Día de los Muertos en otoño que esta abierto a la comunidad, y el Retiro de Estudiantes Latinos en primavera que esta dirigido a estudiantes de la preparatoria en el condado de Lake y Mendocino.
- Latino/a/e/x Student Retreat (Spring semester)
Dia De Los Muertos (Fall semester)
38th Annual Latinx Student Retreat
Friday, April 24th, 2026
8:30 am - 1:30 pm
ENGLISH:
Thank you for your interest in the 38th Annual Latino Student Retreat, sponsored by Mendocino College. Last year, we had the pleasure of hosting over 350 of our local high school students.
The theme for this year’s event is POWER IN UNITY.
2026 Keynote Speaker: Ovidilio "Ovi" Vásquez
Ovidilio "Ovi" Vásquez is a National Inspirational Leadership Keynote Speaker, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur who transforms adversity into advantage, igniting leaders to rise, serve, and thrive with purpose. Featured as a changemaker by Real Leaders magazine, he has spoken to Fortune 500 companies and leading institutions.
His journey — from fatherless child farmworker in rural Guatemala to working for Apple, Tesla, Salesforce, and Uber — reflects deep resilience and relentless drive. A TEDx speaker and author of six books, Ovi launched a mobile app unlocking $5 million in scholarships for underserved students and founded the Laptops of Hope initiative promoting digital equity worldwide. He holds certifications from Harvard Medical School and UCSF in mental health and mindfulness.
A bilingual father of three, Ovi brings culturally attuned insight to every stage, grounded in the belief that transformational leadership is forged through resilience, service, and values-driven purpose.
2026 Registration Process/Timeline & Workshops
The Registration Process will open by mid-March.
Day Of Event Information, Location, and Parking
On the day of the event, please drop off your students near the flag poles on the Mendocino College Ukiah campus. This area is located next to the main Student Services building, MacMillan Hall, and the Theater building.
All students will be asked to wear the event name badge throughout the Latino Student Retreat. Students without a name badge will not be allowed to participate in the activities and will be referred to their chaperone. This is for the safety and security of all students and attendees. Additionally, students will be provided a Latino Student Retreat event t-shirt. Students should wear the event t-shirt during the event.
Please speak to your students ahead of time about proper conduct. Traditionally, chaperones and volunteers play a major role in assisting with crowd control and helping create a fun and welcoming atmosphere. For this reason, we ask that you attend the event presentation and workshops with your students. We will also have experienced college students assisting with workshops and chaperoning students.
Any questions should be referred to Juvenal Vasquez by calling 468-3115 or emailing jvasquez@mendocino.edu. Thank you for all your support! We greatly appreciate your partnership and collaboration in making this a successful event for all of our attendees.
Tentative Breakdown of the Day:
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Check-In
9:10 AM - 10:15 AM: Welcome & Keynote
10:25 AM - 11:15 AM: Workshop 1
11:25 AM - 12:20 PM: Workshop 2
12:20 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch & Resource Fair
SPANISH:
Gracias por su interés en el 38o Retiro Anual de Estudiantes Latinos, patrocinado por el Colegio de Mendocino. El año pasado, tuvimos el placer de recibir a más de 350 estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias locales.
El tema del evento de este año: FUERZA EN LA UNIDAD.
Nuestra orador/a en el 2026: Ovidilio "Ovi"Vásquez .
Ovidilio "Ovi" Vásquez es un orador principal nacional sobre liderazgo inspirador, autor de bestsellers y emprendedor social que transforma la adversidad en ventaja, impulsando a los líderes a levantarse, servir y prosperar con un propósito. Destacado como un agente de cambio por la revista Real Leaders, ha hablado con empresas e instituciones líderes de Fortune 500.
Su trayectoria (de ser un niño trabajador agrícola sin padre en una zona rural de Guatemala a trabajar para Apple, Tesla, Salesforce y Uber) refleja una profunda resiliencia y un impulso incansable. Ovi, orador de TEDx y autor de seis libros, lanzó una aplicación móvil que desbloqueó $5 millones en becas para estudiantes desatendidos y fundó la iniciativa Laptops of Hope que promueve la equidad digital en todo el mundo. Tiene certificaciones de la Facultad de Medicina de Harvard y la UCSF en salud mental y atención plena.
Ovi, padre bilingüe de tres hijos, aporta una visión culturalmente sintonizada a cada etapa, basada en la creencia de que el liderazgo transformacional se forja a través de la resiliencia, el servicio y un propósito impulsado por valores.
Proceso de Registro/Cronograma y Talleres para el 2026
El process para registrars comenzará a mediados de Marzo.
Información del Día del Evento, Ubicación y Estacionamiento
El día del evento, deje a sus estudiantes cerca de los mástiles de bandera en el campus del Colegio de Mendocino en Ukiah. Esta área está ubicada junto al edificio principal de Servicios Estudiantiles, MacMillan Hall y el edifico del Teatro.
A todos los estudiantes se les pedirá que usen su etiqueta con su nombre durante el Retiro de Estudiantes Latinos. Los estudiantes sin etiqueta no podrán participar en las actividades y serán remitidos a su acompañate. Esto es para la seguridad de todos lo estudiantes y asistentes. Además, los estudiantes recibirán una camiseta del evento. Los estudiantes deben usar la camiseta durante el evento.
Por favor hable con sus estudiantes con anticipación sobre la conducta adecuada. Tradicionalmente, los acompañantes y los voluntarios desempeña un papel importante a la hora de ayudar a controlar la multitud y ayudar a crear una atmósfera divertida y acogedora. Por este motivo, te pedimos que asistas a la presentación del evento y a los talleres con sus alumnos. También contaremos con estudiantes universitarios experimentados que ayudarán con los talleres y acompañarán a los estudiantes.
Cualquier pregunta debe remitirse a Juvenal Vasquez llando al 468-3115 o enviando un correo electrónico a jvasquez@mendocino.edu. ¡Gracias por todo su apoyo! Apreciamos enormemente su asociación y colaboración para hacer de este un evento exitoso para todos nuestros asistentes.
Desglose del día:
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Registro
9:10 AM - 10:15 AM: Bienvenida y discurso de apertura
10:25 AM - 11:15 AM: Taller 1
11:25 AM - 12:20 PM: Taller 2
12:20 PM - 1:30 PM: Almuerzo y Feria de Recursos
A special shout-out to our 2026 sponsors: Redwood Credit Union and Black Oaks Coffee Roasters. We look forward to the continuous collaboration to expand Mendocino College's Latinx students' pursuit of higher education.
Un agradecimiento especial a nuestros patrocinadores este año: Redwood Credit Union y Black Oaks Coffee Roasters. Esperamos con interés la colaboración continua para ampliar la búsqueda de educación superior de los estudiantes latinos de Mendocino College.
Questions? Contact us!
¿Preguntas? ¡Contáctenos!
Juvenal Vazquez – jvasquez@mendocino.edu
Dr. Roberto Renteria – rrenteria@mendocino.edu
Music | Dancers | Food | Arts & Crafts | Altars & More
The Hispanic/Latino event planning committee cordially invites you to save the date for the 13th annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event set for Wednesday, October 29th from 4pm to 8pm.
Day of the Dead celebrations date back thousands of years ago when Indigenous people from central Mexico would honor their deceased by placing food and water offerings on their resting place. In modern-day Day of the Dead celebrations, family members continue to practice these traditions by building altars (altares) where they place pictures of their beloved family members along with food and other items their family members enjoyed during their lifetime.
We hope you join us in an evening of celebrating with music, dancing, piñatas, entertainment & activities. Local vendors will be on-site selling delicious food and craft items.
Altars will be on display in the Lowery Student Center from Friday, Oct. 24th, until Friday, Oct. 31st, 2025.
If you are interested in putting up an altar in remembrance of a loved one, please email Roberto Renteria at rrenteria@mendocino.edu.
Please note we all altars should be up and ready by Wednesday, Oct. 29th and will need to be removed by Friday, Oct. 31st by noon (12pm).
Música | Bailarines | Comida | Artesanía | Altares y más
El comité de planificación de eventos le invita cordialmente a reservar la fecha para la 13.ª edición anual del Día de Muertos, que se celebrará el miércoles 29 de octubre de 16:00 a 20:00 h.
Esperamos que nos acompañe en una noche de celebración con música, baile, piñatas, entretenimiento y actividades. Habrá vendedores locales que ofrecerán deliciosa comida y artesanías.
Los altares estarán en exhibición en el Centro Estudiantil Lowery desde el viernes 24 de octubre hasta el viernes 31 de octubre de 2025.
Si le interesa instalar un altar en memoria de un ser querido, por favor, escriba a Roberto Renteria a rrenteria@mendocino.edu.
Tenga en cuenta que todos los altares deben estar listos para el miércoles 29 de octubre y deberán retirarse antes del mediodía del viernes 31 de octubre (12 p. m.).
Event Contact Information/ Información de contacto del evento
Dr. Roberto Renteria, HSI Program Manager
Juvenal Vasquez, Outreach Specialist
View the Day of the Dead Program below! - Vea el programa del evento aquí abajo!
Feel free to reach out to our Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Student Retention staff team. Our HSI staff work within our Student Success and Retention Center. The main office is in Ukiah, MacMillan Hall, room 1260.
Email: retentionhelp@mendocino.edu
Phone #: 707.468.3232
Staff
Oscar Moreno Peredia
Resource listing coming soon!