AVANCE
Celebrates Computer Literacy Graduation
Over 100 AVANCE families were honored Sunday June
13th, as The Mexican Institute of Greater Houston (MIGH) hosted its
yearly graduation “Dia de la Familia (Family Day)” at the George R.
Brown Convention Center. This event celebrated the accomplishments of
nearly 900 graduates from Computer Literacy programs from various
institutions in the community including AVANCE who partners with MIGH to
offer these classes.
With a total of 102 graduates, AVANCE-Houston Inc.
received the Golden Eagle Award for achieving the highest graduation
rate.. The eagle is awarded by MIGH to recognize outstanding efforts
made by those who envision and excel at helping those who dream of
succeeding in life.
Honorable Norberto Terrazas, Consul of Mexico
presented the award to AVANCE’s executive director Jose Villarreal.
In addition, Ms. Ana Lilia Garcia, a computer literacy
instructor was recognized as “Teacher of the Year”. Ms. Garcia is a
graduate of AVANCE’S CDA and Computer Literacy program, and her two
children participated in the agency’s Head Start Program at Mt.
Houston. After successfully completing the program at AVANCE with
outstanding performance she was hired by the Mexican Institute and
assigned to teach computer literacy at AVANCE.
This 16 week program encompasses the basic
understanding of computer hardware and software including Microsoft Word’s,
word processing, powerpoint, excel, file management, e- mail, and web
browsing.
Garcia says that her greatest satisfaction is
witnessing the self-confidence the students gain upon completing the
course. “The first day of class they have a hard time touching the
computer because they’re afraid to break it, but by the end of the
course they become experts and it is just amazing to see how they
interact and help each other out” she said.
In addition she encourages her students to further
their education by taking higher level classes, and to always pursue
their dreams. Her alumni are now are now enrolled in AVANCE’s English
as Second Language (ESL), Parenting, Healthy Marriage and Responsible
Fatherhood programs, which will begin Fall 2010.
The Mexican Institute of Greater Houston Institute
partners with schools and organizations to provide basic education
training to under-served Hispanic families. In addition to offering the
programs in its own facility, MIGH partners with other providers and
assigns them with highly qualified instructors to teach the programs in
each facility. During “Dia de la Familia” the collaborating agencies
which include schools in Houston ISD, Aldine ISD, Klein ISD, Galena
Park, Sheldon ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and programs at the YMCA, NCI, and
others joined together to honor all the graduates.
“For us at MIGH to see our students walking up
the stage, is one of the most relevant motivators we have to
reinvigorate our commitment to our mission of changing lives for a
better tomorrow” said Carlos J. Lopez, President of MIGH.
Special guests for this event included Dolly Martin
from KHCB Radio Amistad,
Raul Rivera Enterate Radio 920AM, and Georgina F.
Serna Hernandez Director of Education for El Tec de Monterrey in Mexico,
a partners with MIGH.
For three consecutive years AVANCE has been recognized
nationally by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of
the top nonprofit organizations in the U.S.
AVANCE’s mission is to unlock America’s
potential by strengthening families in at-risk communities through
effective parent education and support programs.
