BRADENTON (Florida) HERALD

May 19, 2010

Migrant students, families recognized for achievement

By BETH BURGER

BRADENTON — It was a moment of pride as 32 high school seniors from migrant families received certificates of achievement and embraced family members on stage at Bradenton Municipal Auditorium on Tuesday night.

“This night means so much to me,” said 18-year-old Pedro Limas Jr., standing beside the stage shortly after the bilingual ceremony ended for the 24th annual Migrant Education Awards Ceremony.

“My parents, they usually don’t have time to come, but my father said he wouldn’t miss this,” Limas said.

The ceremony recognizes the struggle families endure working in the fields, moving across the country to plant and harvest crops and provide for their children.

Some of the high school seniors will be the first in their family to graduate.

Some of the parents won’t be able to make morning graduation ceremonies because they will be working in the fields.

In Manatee County, approximately 600 children as young as age three participate in the federally funded Migrant Education program, said Kate Hoffman, coordinator of ESOL/migrant and immigrant academic services.

The program provides tutoring, liaisons between school staff and parents and helps connect families to resources.

Limas, who plans to attend the University of South Florida, interviewed with admissions staff from Harvard. He plans to become a cardiovascular surgeon and also go into politics.

“My parents have done everything in the world possible for me,” he said, looking in the direction of his father, who was holding back tears. “He’s got to go to work not because he wants to, but because he wants to sustain our way of life and help me with school.”

Limas spent one summer in Indiana working in the fields making $6.75 per hour in 12-hour shifts that began at 5 a.m.

“That showed me how tough it is to be a migrant worker,” he said.

In some cases, students work along side their families daily, said Tomas Carrillo, a multicultural specialist at the State College of Florida, who graduated from the Migrant Education program in 2002. Carrillo said when he was in middle school he could remember starting the day at 6 a.m. by working in the fields, then getting ready for school and then returning to work in the fields after the school day was over.

During the ceremony, 11 scholarships were awarded to high school seniors.

“They represent all the talent and potential we have in our schools today,” Hoffman said.

Officials also recognized Nolan Middle School Principal Nancy High, who will receive the Florida Migrant Administrator of the Year Award.