An annual event hosted by CommUNITY en ACCIÓN (CEA) that gives middle school students and their parents the college experience for a day to introduce postsecondary education as an achievable goal to families who may not otherwise have this exposure. Each year, the forum brings approximately 1,000 students and 200 parents to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) for a day of inspiration, motivation, and education.
Since its inception, CEA has led and supported in a variety of programs and events whose objectives include educational advancement, cultural pride and economic development. Read more about CEA here.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Anna Aleman at
Since launching in 2011, approximately 6,000 middle school students have been able to participate in the Young Achievers Forum and hundreds of volunteers have given their time and expertise to running the program. Students have been able to learn from leading engineers, government leaders, lawyers, health care professionals and so many more about the career opportunities that become accessible with a postsecondary degree.
For many students, it is their first time on a university campus. Our goal is to give them a glimpse of their great potential and the importance of higher education.
Parents attend separate breakout sessions which give them the tools and resources they need to effectively plan and empower their children to pursue higher education. The parent sessions are conducted in both English and Spanish.