News Archives - 1996

Eloisa Echavez, director of the Hispanic/Latino Support Program and coordinator for the Teachers of Color Program at Augsburg College, has been named Educator of the Year in the state of Minnesota by the INROADS organization. INROADS is a national organization whose mission is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

Echavez developed Augsburg's partnership with INROADS when she came to the college in January 1993. She said receiving the award was symbolic of the program's success at Augsburg.

"My best reward is seeing the students who are taking advantage of the program's opportunities be successful and becoming those needed leaders in our communities of color," she said.

Echavez received her honor Thursday at the 17th annual INROADS/Minneapolis-St. Paul, Inc. recognition banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis. The purpose of the banquet is to recognize, award and celebrate the achievements and hard work of INROADS interns, sponsoring companies and their representatives, and educational and community members that contribute to the success of this program.

It was attended by nearly 600 corporate and educational representatives, students and their families, community members and INROADS staff members.

As director of Augsburg's Hispanic/Latino Support Program, Echavez oversees a program that offers students individualized attention in many areas, including academic support, counseling and advocacy. In her role as Augsburg's coordinator of the Teachers of Color Program, she works with students in several area school districts in a program designed to increase the percentage of teachers of color within those districts.

In yet another capacity in which Echavez serves Augsburg and its students, she coordinates recruiting and retention programs for all students of color. Included are partnerships with organizations such as INROADS.

Augsburg College is a private liberal arts college of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in the heart of the Twin Cities. Augsburg's 2,858 students come from diverse religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Founded in 1869, the college emphasizes intellectual freedom in the search for knowledge; responsiveness to the needs of society and the world; and preparation of students for service and leadership in church and society.