WHITTIER – Rio Hondo College and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce (HOT), Whittier College and many local school districts are collaborating to educate parents about higher-education opportunities for their children at the 15th annual “Empowerment through Education” conference on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at Whittier College.

The daylong event is meant to curb high school dropout rates among Latino students by helping parents learn how to encourage their children to graduate from high school and go on to earn their college degrees.

College recruiters will be on hand to help parents better understand the school application and financial aid process.

A student symposium will offer workshops giving information on the college admission process and more.

A workshop titled “The Path to College” will be offered by Rio Hondo representatives to entice students to attend the hillside campus.

“It is our job as educators to ensure we prepare our prospective future students as best we can by giving them and their parents the necessary tools to help them succeed in higher education,” Rio Hondo Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said in a written release.

One highlight of the event will be a student panel consisting of young men and women from Rio Hondo who have begun successful careers in higher education. That panel is slated for 8:30 a.m.

For more information call 562-692-0921 or visit www.riohondo.edu