male and female students studying together

Latino Student Resources

Community Resources

  • Dare to Dream Get Educated a program for 8th grade girls and their parents/guardians to raise awareness on issue affecting young women and the importance of an education.
  • The Fig Factor is a non-for profit organization dedicated to giving vision, direction, and structure to young Latinas. Our mission is to become a powerful catalyst for Latinas ages 15-25 to pursue their dreams by providing educational leadership platforms, mentorship, and powerful experiences through the context of sisterhood.
  • The People's Resource Center of DuPage County connects residents to the food pantry, clothing, computer training and job assistance.
  • For a more comprehensive list of additional local area resources, visit 211dupage.gov or call 211.

Financial Aid

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine how much financial assistance you qualify for to attend COD. The application can be filled out after Jan. 1 of your senior year of high school. A Spanish version is available on the FAFSA website.

Students on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) do not qualify for FAFSA.

Scholarships

Help fund your application by applying for scholarships. Scholarships have deadline dates, apply early. 

  • Adelante! 
    Awards scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $3,000.
  • ASPIRA Association
    Dedicated exclusively to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Hispanic youth.
  • Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
    Achievement based scholarships awarded to high school seniors.
  • CollegeScholarships.org
    Search for national, state and local scholarships. 
  • Fastweb
    Search for targeted scholarships based on your strengths, interests and skills.
  • Gates Millennium Scholars
    The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American  and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest.
  • Hispanic Scholarship Fund
    Awards over 150 types of scholarships.
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
    Free, informative resource guide for students, parents and educators with an extensive list of scholarships.
  • MoneyGeek
    A great resource for multiple scholarships for Latinos, as well as financial information helpful for anyone wanting to know how to better manage their money.
  • Online Schools - Scholarships for Minority Students 
    A comprehensive scholarship list reserved for African-Americans, Hispanics, women and other specific minority groups, as well as more generalized awards that are made available to applicants belonging to any underrepresented demographic.
  • Private Illinois Colleges and Universities (PICU)
    In support of the organization's mission, PICU grants a minimum of seven scholarships each year to community college transfer students looking to achieve their educational goals at one of our member institutions. 

Organizations

  • Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU)
    HACU represents more than 470 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain.
  • League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 
    LULAC is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC helps advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
    MALDEF strives to implement programs that are structured to bring Latinos into the mainstream of American political and socio-economic life; providing better educational opportunities; encouraging participation in all aspects of society; and offering a positive vision for the future
  • UnidosUS
    UnidosUS serves the Hispanic community through research, policy analysis, and state and national advocacy efforts, as well as program work in communities nationwide. 
  • United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) 
    USHLI is a Chicago-based national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization and a member of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA).

College Information

Professional Outlook

Notable Hispanics

Scott Gomez
Alaska native and only Hispanic NHL 1st-round draft pick.

Luis Walter Alvarez
Recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1968.

David Bennes Barkley
First Hispanic American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Franklin Chang-Diaz
First Costa Rican astronaut and one of only two astronauts to have served on seven space missions.

Joseph Marion Hernandez
First Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Congress, as a delegate from the Spanish territory of Florida.

Nancy Lopez
Four-time LPGA Player of the Year, Rookie of Year, 3-time winner of LPGA Championship, reached Hall of Fame by age 30 with 35 victories and 48 career wins. 

Mario Molina
Recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. 

Contact Information

Center for Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CSDEI)
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 1500

Elizabeth Gómez de la Casa
Manager, Intercultural and Latino Student Initiatives
Hablo español
(630) 942-3146 
Email: gomezdelacasae@cod.edu

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