Dreamers Resource Center marks five anniversary of serving undocumented students
The UTSA Dreamer Resource Center celebrates five years of supporting the successes of undocumented students at an anniversary event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, February 6.
“Over these five years, the UTSA Dreamers Resource Center has provided a sense of community for undocumented students while aiding in their academic successes,” said Damaris Ibarra, the center’s assistant director. “The center has been nationally recognized for its efforts and several universities aspire to reach the standard we have set here at UTSA.
Ibarra is proud of the many accomplishments that have occurred since the opening of the center in support of Dreamers. Among the significant success are donations received, scholarships awarded, increased allyship, and, most important, degrees completed.
“The center has been nationally recognized for its efforts and several universities aspire to reach the standard we have set here at UTSA.” – Damaris Ibarra, UTSA Dreamers Resource Center Assistant Director
The Dreamers Resource Center currently supports approximately 480 undocumented students with an average GPA of 3.04. More than 245 degrees have been awarded over the past five years and as of spring 2022, these graduating students have been celebrated at the Dreamer and Undocumented Students Graduation Celebration.
Additionally, the center has awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships, for tuition and fees, to seven students thanks to generous donations from benefactors like Shea and Larami Serrano and the Up Partnership.
“The community of allies here at UTSA has grown tremendously. Since 2018, over 400 students, faculty, and staff have completed the Dreamer Ally Training hosted each semester.” Ibarra added, “Our community of allies extends throughout San Antonio through our collaborative efforts with RAICES, American Gateways, and the Mexican Consulate.”
⇒ Explore the Dreamers Resource Center and its spring 2023 events.
⇒ Support Dreamers at UTSA.
The Dreamers Resource Center is housed under the Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice and together provide successful advocacy and social justice events such as National Immigrants Day, Amplifying Black Immigrant Voices, and Know Your Rights training. In 2021 the Monarch Association was established as an official registered student organization to provide access to leadership opportunities, mental health resources, and social events for undocumented students.
The University Career Center, Wellbeing Services, and the Graduate School are just a few of the many campus partners who collaborate on events and services.
“Five years ago, Courtney Balderas-Jacob, and many others here at UTSA, established the center and I am proud to continue the work on behalf of our undocumented Roadrunners,” said Ibarra of the Dreamers Resource Center successes and effort.
The anniversary celebration will be held in the Travis and Harris rooms in the Student Union. The event will include remarks from President Taylor Eighmy, a representative from La Raza Faculty Staff Association, and UTSA alumna, Andrea Rathbone Ramos, followed by refreshments and networking.
