By Richard Leon and Sylvia Rodriguez
The Right to Success event, held on March 28th, 2025, marked a significant milestone in our
continued commitment to empowering marginalized students from underrepresented
communities across Michigan. In collaboration with the sisters of Delta Tau Lambda Sorority Inc.
and the brothers of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., this program aimed to
inspire and educate high school students on what it takes to be successful in college and
beyond.
Our primary goal was to share our knowledge, passion, and lived experiences with these
potential college students, introducing them to the opportunities at the University of Michigan, as
well as expanding their understanding of college education and transfer pathways.
The event featured presentations on financial aid, the transfer program, and U-M admissions,
along with interactive sessions about unique offerings from the School of Social Work and
various majors within LSA. We provide d large-scale table resource fair where various crucial
organizations came together to present their offerings to these students as well. Lunch was
generously provided by our local partner, Bodega Bros. Students had the opportunity to tour
campus buildings, experience a large lecture hall, and experience life as a college student.
While the event was a success, we faced notable challenges this year, particularly in recruiting schools to participate. Many schools were unresponsive or hesitant to
share the opportunity with their students. To overcome this, our outreach team went above and
beyond tabling at the local high school during their spring break. Meeting with school
representatives to build trust and generate excitement.
Thanks to their dedication, and we knew they would expect challenges, so after their countless
hours of planning by the team, we were proud to host 58 confirmed students coming from cities
across the state, from Detroit to Holland. Despite a tight planning schedule in the second
semester of planning, our team remained committed to the mission and formed valuable
connections we aim to strengthen for the future.
Throughout the planning process, our team developed a wide range of leadership skills. We
began small, focusing on local recruitment efforts, and gradually expanded our outreach to
larger communities and schools willing to engage with our mission. While recruitment proved
difficult, our perseverance paid off. Many teams leveraged personal connections across
campus, helping us bring various departments and colleges at U-M to participate in our tabling
event.
Looking ahead, we plan to utilize the feedback we receive from both students and high school
staff to refine and improve next year’s event. Starting with our strengths and building more
achievable goals, earlier outreach timelines, and more intentional school engagement. We are
confident we can deliver an event smoother and more impactful moving forward.
We’re excited to begin on this program again next fall and are committed to making each better
than the last. With stronger planning and deeper outreach, we aim to increase the number of students to at least 70 students, continuing to expand
