SMAS Student Leadership Team Presents at National AAACE Conference

San Mateo Adult School Student Leadership Team Denise Carrasco, Cristina Munoz Ulrich, Lupita Segura and Marina Kravtsova applied, were accepted to, prepared for, and presented at the AAACE 2016 National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

AAACE is the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education.  At their conferences, people come from all over the United States to talk and discuss and learn about Adult Education.

Denise Carrasco was Day Student Council President in 2015-16.
Cristina Munoz Ulrich was Day Student Council Vice President in 2015-16.
Lupita Segura is this year's Day Student Council President.
Marina Kravtsova is a former Student Leader at our school.  Now she is our English Learner Specialist. She works in the SMART Center, registering students and helping them find resources.

Lupita, Cristina, Denise, Marina

It was a lot of work to go to the Conference.  Cristina, Denise, and Marina had to write a proposal and apply.  After their proposal was accepted, they had to raise the money to attend the conference.  The Student Council gave them 2000 dollars.  The Teachers Union gave them 600.  The Garden Club gave them 300 dollars.  They raised money selling pizza meals sold at lunch and evening break time. 



Denise, Marina, Cristina



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The title of their workshop was, "Student Council: Organizing for School, Local and State Success."

The team put in many hours discussing their ideas, how to present them, and planning their workshop.

Denise used her professional skills to create an amazing Presi powerpoint (not available here).

You can see a short version of their powerpoint here:

Student Council Organizing for School, Local and State Success

When Denise was not able to attend, Lupita stepped up and volunteered to take her place. 

Everyone worked hard to prepare for the workshop, conference, and financing the trip.

At the Conference, Cristina, Lupita, and Marina had many obstacles.  They had tech problems.  They asked for help from the President of AAACE.  Denise supported them on the phone.  They persevered and they succeeded.  They gave a great presentation.

Top:   Cristina, Lupita, and Marina
Bottom right:  Cristina, Marina, Lupita, and AAACE President Steven Frye



Lupita gave an Adult Education Matters t-shirt to the President of AAACE

They also made new friends and met many people.  They attended workshops and learned about Adult Education in other places in the USA. 

Lupita was a kind of ambassador for our school, introducing herself to many people and telling them about us.

San Mateo Adult School was the only Adult School at the Conference. 

SMAS representatives brought the power of Student Council, Student Leadership and Adult School Grassroots Energy to the Conference. 

We owe Cristina, Denise, Lupita, and Marina a huge, heartfelt thank you for carrying the message that Student Council Matters! to a national audience.

Thank you! 


To read Lupita's story click here.

To read Cristina's story click here.