College Connections Cafe Helps Martinez Students Look to Future

Martinez “student helpers” hold up their college banners during the Romeoville middle school’s College Connections Café Wednesday. Submitted by Valley View School District.

A. Vito Martinez students spent their lunch hour Wednesday experiencing the excitement of a college tour thanks to the Romeoville middle school’s College Connections Café.

Organized as part of a nationwide celebration of College Application Month, students received a random mock college acceptance letter to one of 36 of the nation’s top universities. Lunch tables were set up representing each university with Martinez student leaders at each table to guide the students through socialization and college awareness activities.

“We’re introducing students to the most prestigious universities in the United States hoping they will broaden their horizons and consider that they have nearly 3,000 colleges and universities from which to choose when they graduate from high school,” said Martinez Counselor Anita Hilton.

Students entered the lunchroom with fight songs from various universities playing over the cafeteria loud speaker system while student leaders held banners of each school high in the air.

“The student leaders all researched the colleges they represented,” Hilton said. “They utilized that information in their table’s activities and discussions.”

While students ate lunch and participated in conversations about each school, a projection screen in the middle of the room featured virtual tours of Princeton University and University of California at Santa Barabara.

Hilton said the Martinez staff wants students to know that if they maintain excellent grades they can go to a prestigious university regardless of their family’s income.

“This is an awesome event for the middle school students to be involved and to find out about different colleges across the country,” said parent Hillary Eaton, who volunteered to assist with the event.