This past October, I had the wonderful surprise to receive a call from David, one of my former students who had graduated from OSU over 27 years ago. David, who is a successful attorney in Cleveland, was now contacting me as an involved community volunteer, working with the Cleveland Esperanza Latino youth organization. Given the many years since David last attended OSU, he was now researching if the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) still offered the same opportunities and assistance that had made his matriculation to OSU a reality over 30 years ago. In chatting with this former student and exchanging pleasantries about our career paths, families, and reminiscing about the numerous other OSU Latin@s, it became clear to us the instrumental role OMA has played in shaping the lives of many of OSU Latin@s. During our conversation, I was delighted to inform David that not only does OMA still offer the same programs such as the Freshman Foundation Program (FFP) that recruited and supported him, but that it has grown tremendously, by adding new innovative academic and financial aid programs that now place OMA at the forefront as one of the largest diversity offices of its kind in the country.

David’s story of achievement is just one example of the legacy and impact the Office of Minority Affairs has been having on OSU Latin@ students. Each year a large percentage of the total OSU Latin@ freshmen class is recruited and supported by the resources and services provided by OMA. David, the successful Cleveland attorney, is just one of hundreds of OSU Latin@ alumni who made their career dreams a reality by seeking and taking advantage of the many wonderful financial, academic and placement support services that OMA has to offer. Apparently the OMA legacy of support and service to the Latin@ community is one that continues to grow in reputation, as each year we witness more and more Latin@ students from all over the country being admitted and supported through one of the several programs OMA has to offer. Given the many wonderful services and financial assistance available from OMA to Latin@s who are contemplating to become OSU Buckeyes, it is highly recommended that students and parents alike take time to familiarize themselves with all the resources and services available to them through the Office of Minority Affairs by visiting the OMA web site at http://www.oma.osu.edu.