SUNY Old Westbury is committed to creating futures for all students interested in pursuing higher education.
As one of 15 colleges across the United States participating in the Hispanic Federation’s CREAR Futuros program, SUNY Old Westbury welcomed a cohort of CREAR Junior high school students to the Old Westbury campus on November 19, 2025, to learn about the academic opportunities and resources available to them at the collegiate level.
“SUNY Old Westbury provides access and support, helping students find a true home here while empowering them to elevate—to grow, to excel, and to step into their fullest academic and professional potential,” said Lisandra Ramos, special assistant to the president, administration and initiatives.
CREAR Futuros, which means “To Create Futures” in Spanish, is a peer-mentor based initiative designed to improve Latinx student success. Students engaged in CREAR, which also stands for college readiness, achievement and retention, are paired with a peer mentor who introduces them to campus resources and offers insight on how to make the most out of their Old Westbury experience.
Throughout the semester, mentors facilitate mentee group meetings using the Hispanic Federation curriculum, including discussions and activities designed to support students’ academic, social and personal development in order to create a strong sense of community.
Working with Hispanic Federation gives both prospective and current Old Westbury students opportunities to discover themselves within a safe and welcoming community.
“It fosters student success. It allows for students to continue to create a sense of belonging while developing their leadership skills,” Ramos said.
The Hispanic Federation is a non-profit organization committed to the empowerment and advancement of the Hispanic community. CREAR Junior is a collaborative initiative between the organization and the Royal Bank of Canada aimed to prepare New York City high schoolers for college and their careers.
During the visit, the students from four high schools across the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn connected with current Old Westbury CREAR Futuros mentees and mentors through a panel discussion.
The three mentees leading the panel discussion include Harold Ascencio ’27, Business Administration major; Rocio Marroquin ’29, Psychology major; and Esmeili Toribio ’29, Psychology major. The panel was also joined by current mentor Adan Pleitez ’26, Spanish Language, Hispanic Literature & Culture major.
They spoke on their experience in the CREAR program and the ways in which they were set up for success at Old Westbury.
“What has motivated me to get involved in CREAR Futuros has been knowing that CREAR Futuros not only brings you support academically, but also you get to meet other people within the program that you might relate to,” Marroquin said during the panel. “Especially being first-gen, I feel like it’s really important to have friends that are in similar struggles or challenges while discovering your college journey.”
Ascencio recognized the guidance of his mentor, who helped him create a resume and introduced him to Handshake, an online platform that helps college students seek and apply for internships and jobs. He also noted the support from all of the CREAR mentors and the campus’ CREAR Futuros liaison, Maribel Cordero-Garcia, saying they will always make time to talk, check-in and ensure the mentees are supported.
The CREAR mentors, Lola Chavez ’26, Psychology major; Kelvin Ventura ’26, Spanish Language, Hispanic Literature & Culture major; and Juliana Villamar ’27, Finance major; proudly watched their mentees present on the panel. They also contributed to conversation discussing their involvement and passions.
“It’s very important to put yourself out there,” said Chavez, an athlete on the women’s soccer team and intern at the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. “SUNY Old Westbury has a ton of different resources. I know I was really supposed to just touch on athletics,” she joked, “but once I get into it, it’s very exciting.”
The CREAR Juniors met the mentees and mentors during a “Friendsgiving” lunch event, where they participated in an activity designed to promote open dialogue between the groups of students through discussing thankfulness. The high schoolers also toured the campus and learned about the Admissions process and the Education Opportunity Program at SUNY Old Westbury.
“For most of them, this is their first college trip,” said Perla Rodriguez, senior director of Education programs for the Hispanic Federation. “So, they get to see what it is to visit a college, to see how it is to live on a campus, and also to connect with other Latinos who are already in the college world.”