Thank you all for making our 10th Annual Education Symposium a huge success! This event was made possible by our generous partners, sponsors, speakers, and panelists, along with our Foundation Board and staff. Our scholars left inspired and ready to start a new chapter in their lives!

Each year the East End Chamber of Commerce awards academic scholarships to deserving students in our community. This year $30,000 in Scholarships were awarded to 29 students from various High Schools in the area. The symposium was hosted by Houston Community College Southeast Campus on Wednesday, May 25. The theme was “Building an Effective Workforce.” Our Platinum Sponsor for the event was Valero Houston Refinery. 

Our breakfast keynote speakers were Dr. Cesar Maldonado, Chancellor of Houston Community College, and Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, President of Houston Community College Southeast College. Our lunch keynote speaker was Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President of Texas Southern University.

The half-day symposium included breakfast, break-out sessions, and lunch, each with key panelists and moderators. Our audience included teachers, counselors, principals, community leaders, and industry leaders. Topics covered included:

• Preparing the Next Generation of Supply Chain Leaders for the New Normal

• Advantages of a Community College Foundation and Workforce Education

• Building an Effective Workforce Through Collaboration with Industry and Academia

• Preparing the Workforce of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Scholarship recipients and their families gathered at the event as they were encouraged by our keynote speakers and forums committed to serving the educational and communal needs of Houston’s East End. Each scholarship recipient was sponsored by a Chamber Member. The students were also featured on our social media accounts leading up to the event.

To see the complete list of scholarship recipients and our sponsors of the event visit our website here.  

We also featured the first-ever Teacher of the Year awarded to Mr. Cristian Gonzalez from Milby High School. Finalists included: Mr. Benjamin Buso - East Early High School and Hilary Velasquez - Chavez High School

A big thank you to one of our partners in the community, Whataburger, for gearing up our graduates with amazing Class of 2022 t-shirts that included memorable phrases celebrating good times they will cherish forever. 

The East End is home to over 234,000 people. Of that number, 70% are Hispanic or Latino descent. 25% attain a high school diploma, and only 10% seek a college degree. 

If you would like to continue our support of East End students attaining higher education, you can still make a tax-deductible donation today at our link here. 

Thank you again to everyone who continues to make our Annual Education Symposium a place of growth and knowledge!