Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padr\u00f3n has another accomplishment to add to his r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 19, President Barack Obama signed an executive order making Padr\u00f3n the chair of a new White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic-Americans.<\/p>\n
The moment was seen live via web conference by students at all eight MDC campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very proud of and honored by this appointment,\u201d Padr\u00f3n said via e-mail. \u201cI have come a long way, but I have had great support all along the way from a supportive and loving family, students and colleagues. They have inspired and motivated me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Padr\u00f3n will guide a 30-member commission, charged with the responsibility of informing the Obama Administration on educational issues related to Hispanics. The commission will also address opportunities in the Hispanic community while increasing educational involvement of Hispanic youth.<\/p>\n
The Executive Order is aimed at strengthening the nation by continuing educational opportunities and improving educational outcomes for Hispanics and Latinos of all ages.<\/p>\n
Its goal is to help more Hispanics receive an education that prepares them for college, and productive careers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an issue that truly takes an entire nation,\u201d Padr\u00f3n said. \u201cThere must be a profound change in the mindset of Americans that college education is truly the only passport to the mainstream economy and a prosperous life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Padr\u00f3n\u2019s focus is to unite Hispanic students and their non-Hispanic peers. He said that by rebuilding the K-12 system so that students focus on college from the start, every student will have quality learning opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel this will improve graduation rates for all ethnic groups and help us move forward as a nation,\u201d said Adolfo Jimenez, an 18-year-old business major at North Campus. \u201cImmigrants who came from other countries are being represented, like me. I am very proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his speech, Obama said via teleconference that Padr\u00f3n has been a leader in his administration\u2019s efforts to strengthen America\u2019s community college and schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to running a college, he\u2019s agreed to serve as the chair of this initiative\u2019s Presidential Advisory Commission. We are grateful to you,\u201d Obama said. \u201cThis will be a group of 30 Latino leaders who are going to make sure that, when it comes to our children\u2019s education, my ad- ministration hears the voices of the Latino community loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Overton contributed to this story.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padr\u00f3n has another accomplishment to add to his r\u00e9sum\u00e9. On Oct. 19, President Barack Obama signed an executive order making Padr\u00f3n the chair of a new White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic-Americans. The moment was seen live via web conference by students at all eight MDC campuses. \u201cI […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":315,"featured_media":7895,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[38,314],"class_list":{"0":"post-7894","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-mdc","9":"tag-president-eduardo-padron"},"yoast_head":"\n