TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay campus of Ana G. Méndez University graduated its largest class Friday — 113 graduates.
That's 113 bilingual professionals ready to enter the Bay area's workforce.
- Ana G. Méndez University focuses on creating bilingual workforce
- Many graduates heading into health sciences careers
- 2019 class made up mostly of women
- More Hillsborough County stories
The Puerto Rico-based research university focuses on creating a bilingual workforce across its many satellite campuses.
"We treasure and value our multicultural environment because it not only makes people from different countries feel better, but it also encourages tolerance and interaction with other cultures,” said Luis Zayes, vice president of national affairs.
Efrain Costa got his bachelor's degree in psychology on Thursday.
“It’s a great advantage for us in the Hillsborough county community, especially in the Tampa area, so I can use my skills as a bilingual to be able to help and provide social services,” said Costa, who got his 4 year degree while working full time at MacDill Air Force Base.
This year’s graduating class was made up of mostly women. Many graduates are heading into health sciences and humanities, like nursing and psychology.
“One of the things that I want to do is, like, to help people in different languages, so I want to try and go learn other languages, not only Spanish and English,” said Katiria Colon, who plans on using her new psychology degree in Maine.
Though many students speak Spanish, the school has seen an increase in students from all over the world.
“It's so important to feel part of your native language and your native culture, as well as gaining the English language,” said Tampa campus director Yvonne Cadiz.
“It is very important for our community to make itself felt, and being more educated adds weight to what we say,” Zayes said.