As a way to raise awareness and inform students, the Cerritos College Project H.O.P.E. program held its open house in front of the Physical Science building on Aug. 19.

The purpose of the open house was to provide information to students regarding the program and its services, which include supplemental instruction in chemistry and anatomy and physiology as well as various other counseling courses, according to Program Facilitator Maggie Cordero.

Other information that was provided at the open house included brochures regarding the program, flyers informing students of tutoring courses and a calendar of events.

Cordero also mentioned the emphasis that is placed on the program’s students to volunteer in their community.

“We encourage our students to volunteer out in the community and work at CVS and health fairs,” Cordero said.

Cordero went on to mention that other students have gone on to volunteer with various organizations such as Parents Against Cancer as well as working at the Downey Regional Hospital.

Another service that Cordero mentioned was for parents to learn about higher education.

“We provide workshops for parents and we also introduce them to what higher education is like and what it is to pursue a career in the health field so that they have the tools to be able to support their students in their academic endeavors,” Cordero said.

Cordero believes that throwing the open house at the beginning of the fall semester is proving to be advantageous.

“It’s the first week of school, a lot of the students are walking around and it’s a way of letting them know who we are, where we are located and introducing them to the program,” Cordero said.

For Vanessa Ojeda, a student of Cal State Long Beach and a former beneficiary of the program, she believes that Project H.O.P.E. can be very useful.

 “I think it’s really helpful, especially for people going into the health field and it increases the number of latinos going into the field,” Ojeda said.

Regarding the effectivity of the program, nursing major Cynthia Ascencio added, “It’s amazing. Personally, it has helped me learn what I have to do to complete my major and it helps me get through my classes.”

For more information, the Project H.O.P.E office will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.