The Cultural Unity Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder has been awarded the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute's Collegiate Leadership Award.
The award will be presented at the institute's annual conference in Chicago on Sept. 28. Approximately 1,500 present and future leaders are expected to attend.
According to Juan Andrade Jr., institute president, the award is given in recognition of the center's outstanding efforts in organizing and promoting collegiate and community leadership development, diversity and cultural awareness, and participation in student government.
"I'm just delighted that we will be receiving this year's award," said Dale Trevino, CUC director. "There are over 15 different collegiate leadership development programs across the nation and to be selected number one among them is a very big honor."
Trevino was told by the institute's selection committee that the CU-Boulder program was unique because it was the first to become a multicultural one, including other ethnic groups such as Asian Americans, African Americans and American Indians.
"I'm pleased that we set the precedent on that," Trevino said. "The program could not be possible without the support of the entire CUC staff, and kudos go to them for being involved with leadership development for their respective communities."
CUC's Latino Leadership Program began in 1999. The principle objective of the course was to cultivate upcoming Latino leaders through greater activism on campus and in their communities. The program has since expanded to a become a multicultural leadership class, with more than 50 students participating in the program since its inception.
The Cultural Unity Center offers a variety of programs and services for students, including confidential individual and group counseling, peer outreach, scholarship information, leadership development and computer lab and networking opportunities. Many students say the center plays a vital role in making them feel comfortable at CU-Boulder.
The center also provides services to staff and faculty, including diversity training. It's various cultural activities are popular on campus, including the Communities of Color Fall Welcome Gathering, held annually on the first day of classes. This year's gathering drew more than 550 participants.
For more information on the Cultural Unity Center, call (303) 492-5667 or visit the Web site at .