TENTH ANNUAL
The YMCA Mexican Youth Conference entered into its decade last May when 40 delegates convened at the International Institute in Los Angeles for its annual meeting. Highlighted by a panel composed of a N.Y.A. official, a Negro civic leader, and two school principals from Central Junior High School and Garfield High School, the meeting divided itself into various discussions groups who discussed such topics as: delinquency, selective service and educational opportunities.
Paul Coronel of U.C.L.A. was elected president for the second time. Miss Ursula Chavez, teacher at Central Junior High, and Miss Nettie Lopez of La Verne College were elected vice-presidents. Natalie Valdez, social worker, was elected secretary.
Through the efforts of Mr. Van Winkle of the YMCA and Miss Natalie Valdez of the International Institute, along with the guidance of former President Candy Mendoza the tenth annual conference became a reality.
ARIZONA
Dr. Irina Wilson, sponsor of “Los Conquistadores,” college Mexican-American club at Arizona State Teachers College, reports the following news of its former members:
Manuel Alcantar is an officer in the paratroopers. Alcantar was a former aviation cadet who was injured in a plane accident.
Honorato Manriquez is now an aviation cadet at Lincoln, Nebr.
Orlando Loera is a first lieutenant bombardier and has fought in North Africa.
Vidal Cortez of Mesa, Arizona, is an Air Force lieutenant.
Bill Lerma, former school teacher, is now- a bi-lingual announcer employed at radio station K.O.Y., Phoenix, Arizona.
John Diaz is a lieutenant in the infantry and is now in Camp Wolters, Texas.
★ BlY HOXBS *
M- A. M.
COMPLETES
YEAR
Last May the Mexican-American Movement completed its first anniversary. Although handicapped by a large loss of personnel, gas rationing and war conditions, the spark of interest was kept kindling, mainly by the public appearances of its members. Other activities have been a conference sponsored in Pasadena last fall which was attended by teachers and social workers of that vicinity. And a research committee under the chairmanship of Mrs. Rebecca Gutierrez has been filing information pertaining to our Mexican-American people.
The past year Steven Reyes acted as general secretary with Paul Coronel vice-general secretary, and Angelo Cano as secretary-treasurer. The Advisory Committee is composed of well-known persons in every walk of life.
The Movement's membership is spread throughout California and Arizona. The members are interested in the activities and welfare of our Americans of Mexican descent and are willing to serve in whatever way possible to improve attitudes of both groups. Anyone wishing to find out which member resides in their vicinity, may contact Mr. Steven Reyes through this magazine.
SCHOLARSHIP
To encourage students from Spanish-speaking families of the Southwest to carry on graduate work and prepare themselves for wórk among their own people, fellowship awards will be made to students who have graduated from universities and colleges in 1 exas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Southern California. General requirements are citizenship, age under 35, good character and health, and presentation of a plan of study related to proposed wrork among the people of the Southwest. Qualified graduates may apply to Institute of International Education, 2 W. 4th St., New York 19, N. Y.
Winner of one of these fellowships in 1942 was Paul Coronel who has now completed his graduate work and will teach junior high school grades in Fontana, Calif.
LEADERS TELL
The subjective viewpoint on being a Mexican-American was delineated by four young speakers introduced by Stephen A. Reyes, at the Eighth Session of the Los Angeles City and County Schools workshop in the education of Mexican and Spanish-speaking pupils at Lincoln High School in Los Angeles.
In the interest of better understanding more than four hundred teachers attended the two-week course which was planned in view of the minority problems of education, environment, social adjustment and education.
The “zoot” gang wars, inferiority complexes and segregation problems were discussed by Paul Coronel, Fontana school instructor; Felix Gutierrez, technical illustrator at Douglas Aircraft; William Zazuetta, instructor at Jordan High School, and Sylvan Pasternak, probation officer.
GARFIELD HIGH
In the recent graduating class of Garfield high school the following graduates received honors: Student Body President Ernest Gallego gave the closing graduation address and was chosen an . Ephebian. Gilbert Reyes also received the coveted post of Ephebian. Carlos Chavez maintained a high scholastic average and received the C.S.F. award. Elected to the Achievement club vzere Luis Acevedo and Carlos Chavez for all-around service to the school.
HONOR STUDENT
Conchita Silva of Los Angeles City College, graduated with cum laude recognition by Tau Alpha Epsilon honorary scholarship society. Miss Silva maintained a grade point average of 2.5.
BOYS WEEK
During Boys' Week in Los Angeles, Fernando Alatorre, of Roosevelt High School, took over as honorary police chief of the city. Alatorre, a prominent senior, and cadet captain of the R.O.T.C., intends to study criminology for a life career. A 1 -A draft classification retards his present goal.
Ernest Gallego, Student Body president at Garfield High School, and a major in Advertising—ArL_ assumed the duties of Los .Angeles County Sheriff.