WINONA LAKE — Grace College will host its tenth annual Latino Visit Day on Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The visit, completely in Spanish,  is specifically designed for Latino/a families to experience life at Grace College. The day includes an admissions overview, campus tour, lunch and information about student services.

“The Latino Visit Day has been one of the most impactful visit options at Grace for ten years now,” said Ben Navarro, director of Latino engagement at Grace College. “It has proven to give Latino students valuable insights into college life and help them make informed decisions about their future education.”

For Itsel Flores-Uribe, a current senior at Grace studying international business, attending the Latino Visit Day as a high schooler in 2021 played a crucial role in her college decision.

“Grace College’s Latino Visit Day was my last college visit, and I was so glad my parents could enjoy the experience,” said Flores-Uribe. “The moment I arrived, everyone was so welcoming – it felt like I was at a family gathering! Then when we began to worship together and a devotion was shared, I could feel the presence of God. Before we even started the campus tour, I had already made up my mind. I was coming to Grace for my studies!”

According to Flores-Uribe, who now helps with the event, the visit day is a valuable experience for both students and their parents.

“I would highly encourage Latino students and their parents to register for the Latino Visit Day because it allows parents to fully understand what Grace College is about and to obtain all of the important information,” she said. “Meanwhile, the students are able to enjoy the day and connect with current Grace students without having to worry about translating everything for their parents.”

The Latino Visit Day at Grace allows students to explore Grace’s 180-acre campus, meet Spanish-speaking staff and faculty, hear from Grace students and learn more about the scholarships, clubs and resources available for Latino/a students.

To register for Latino Visit Day or to learn more, visit www.grace.edu/latino.

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WINONA LAKE — Itsel Flores-Uribe, a Grace College sophomore from Elkhart, recently was one of 30 Hoosier students to receive the “Realizing the Dream” scholarship from Independent Colleges of Indiana.

Each of the honorees is a sophomore student who has “realized the dream” to be the first in his or her family to attend college, according to a news release from Grace College.

The event is made possible by the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. Each honoree received a $4,000 scholarship to help with college costs.

One out of every three students on ICI campuses is first-generation. Financial aid provided by ICI institutions, combined with state and federal grants, makes a private college education a possibility for all Hoosier students, including Flores-Uribe.

From a young age, Flores-Uribe was keenly aware of the sacrifices made by her parents to give her opportunities they never had.

“When my mom was young, she had the opportunity to attend college, but she sacrificed her college savings to support her family financially,” said Flores-Uribe. “And both of my parents left their family, friends and home country to come to the United States, adapting to a new culture and language so that my brother and I could pursue higher education.”

When Flores-Uribe began searching for colleges, Grace wasn’t on her radar. She had a list of Christian colleges to visit, but none of them felt like where she belonged. After several disappointing visits, a friend invited Flores-Uribe to Grace’s Latino Visit Day.

“The moment I arrived at Grace, I knew God was telling me that this was the right college for me,” said Flores-Uribe.

Now, Flores-Uribe is studying international business and entrepreneurial management with the goal of owning her own business one day.

After only a year and a half on campus, Flores-Uribe has already gotten involved in a number of groups and clubs that make Grace College feel like home. In hopes of learning her third language, she attends French club, and she also enjoys playing on the club rugby team where she has built strong relationships with her teammates, the release states. Flores-Uribe especially enjoys being a part of Esperanza Latina.

“Esperanza Latina is a place where I count my friends as family,” said Flores-Uribe. “It’s a place where we share tradition and culture. Through it, I’ve learned many things from other Latinos.”

Flores-Uribe’s college experience has been everything her parents have worked so hard for, stated the release. So when she found out she had been awarded the Realizing the Dream Scholarship, she was overjoyed.

“I was in pure shock for a few minutes and then immediately called my mom to give her the news,” she said.

Grace College provides significant financial aid for students. In fact, nearly 25% of its incoming students are attending Grace tuition-free through a combination of federal, state and institutional aid.

For more information about Grace College, including financial aid and scholarship information, visit www.grace.edu/admissions or call 866-974-7223.

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