SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Staff Writer
Graham Shea / Photo Editor
The Pepperdine University Hispanic Council presented its 10th Annual Mariachi Concert on Sunday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.
The event is designed to celebrate the importance of education among members of the Hispanic community and showcased a variety of performers ranging from classical to pop musicians.
The concert included Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, master pianist Enrique Chia and soprano vocalist Jessica Rivera.
Mariachi Reyna is an all-female mariachi group, which is unique to the typically male-dominated profession. The group is known internationally for their traditional flair.
“We are very lucky to have them,” said Israel Rodriguez, director of Hispanic affairs.
Rodriguez said the Hispanic Council was also excited to feature opera singer and Pepperdine graduate Jessica Rivera on the concert stage as well.
“She is a role model to young women who aspire to become opera singers,” Rodriguez said.
The Hispanic Council started the mariachi concert tradition to promote education among the Hispanic community, Rodriguez said.
“It was started to reach out to Hispanic communities and educate Hispanic students and their parents with something different,” he said.
The show reaches out to the public and allows low-income families to attend a show at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and enjoy an afternoon of music, Rodriguez said.
Event coordinator Elaine Guerrero, a 2004 graduate, was in charge of ensuring the night ran smoothly. While a Pepperdine student, Guerrero also worked to promote the annual mariachi concert. She continued her work for the Hispanic Council as a graduate, and was a key coordinator in the concert’s operation this year.
“It is fun to coordinate and a great opportunity at the same time,” Guerrero said. “I really enjoyed working with the event.”
The Hispanic Council was started in April 1995 to aid Hispanic students in achieving academic success.
“It reaches out to the Hispanic communities of Ventura and Los Angeles,” Rodriguez said.
Pepperdine furthered its initiative to aid the Hispanic community five years ago by starting a new annual program, Plant the Educational Seed in Hispanic America, which was incorporated into the mariachi concert.
The program awards $500 savings bonds to fourth-grade students chosen by their teachers for academic achievement. The awardees are presented with the savings bonds on stage and recognized for their academic efforts and personal leadership.
“The bonds represent incentive for students to continue their education past high school,” Rodriguez said.
The Hispanic community struggles to meet this standard, as less than 20 percent of Hispanics do not attend college, Rodriguez said. Of those students who do attend college, less than 50 percent finish their degrees.
“We must address the issue now and start in the fourth-grade level, where children learn the basics,” he said.
During the concert, the Hispanic Council also presented El Faro, or lighthouse, Award to deserving individuals who have made contributions to society through education, business and community advancement.
Two individuals, Aurora Lopez and Dan Garcia, were recognized at Sunday’s concert.
Lopez, 85, was recognized for her contributions to the educational community.
“She volunteers her teaching skills to children in Oxnard,” Rodriguez said.
Garcia, a life-long community member and Oxnard High School teacher, was also awarded for his contributions to education.
All proceeds from the mariachi concert go to the Pepperdine University Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which provides a means for deserving Hispanics to attend Pepperdine.
10-27-2005
