Admissions

ALSAME Youth Conference

Alsame logo 2026 Youth Conference

Western Michigan University has been selected to host the 2026 ALSAME Youth Conference.  

Designed to support college readiness and career exploration, the conference will feature a full day of workshops, panels, and a college fair. Students will engage in sessions focused on navigating college admissions, understanding financial aid, exploring emerging career fields and developing the skills needed to transition successfully into higher education.

8 a.m. Check-in Begins in the WMU Student Center, First Floor

9:15 a.m. Welcome with Keynote Speaker Monteze O. Morales 

Monteze O. Morales

Commissioner, Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, D3

Director, Student Well-Being & Thriving, Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Commissioner Monteze O. Morales is a transformational leader, public servant, and equity strategist with more than 20 years of experience driving systems-level change across education, government, and community impact. She serves as the first Afro-Latina Commissioner representing District 3 on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, where she also made history as its first Afro-Latina Vice Chair. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, she completed two terms with the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan. Morales is recognized for designing and scaling high-impact, data-driven strategies that advance equity and measurable outcomes. A leader who drives innovation and sustainable change at scale, she spent a decade at Kalamazoo Valley Community College leading place-based scholarship and student success initiatives. Her work integrated basic needs, financial wellness, and academic support into a unified model that strengthened retention, improved course success, and elevated the student experience. Now serving as Director of Student Well-Being and Thriving at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Morales leads a comprehensive strategy focused on food security, housing stability, and financial empowerment—ensuring students can learn, grow, and thrive. As a policymaker, she championed funding for Gender Affirming Care, established an emergency assistance fund for county employees and advanced a landmark proclamation declaring housing a public health crisis, demonstrating her ability to translate vision into actionable policy. She holds a master’s degree from Western Michigan University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

10:15 a.m.  Session 1: Beyond the Classroom - The Lifelong Value of a College Degree

Why is college worth the investment? Discover how college will open doors to new opportunities, invest in your personal growth, allow you to pursue your passions and discover interests you didn't know of before.

11 a.m. Session 2: Level Up Your Life 

Learn how to thrive in college with a balanced well-being wheel. Explore the eight dimensions and leave this session with real ways to level up your wellness.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

  • Lunch in the WMU Student Center Dining Facility
  • College & Career Fair
    • Alma College
    • Aquinas College
    • Baker College
    • Central Michigan University
    • Davenport University
    • Eastern Michigan University
    • Grand Rapids Community College
    • Grand Valley State University
    • Hope College
    • Kettering University
    • Lawrence Technological University
    • Oakland University
    • Saginaw Valley State University
    • Spring Arbor University
    • University of Detroit Mercy
    • University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan – Dearborn
    • University of Michigan – Flint
    • Wayne State University
    • Western Michigan University: College of Arts & Sciences
    • Western Michigan University: College of Aviation
    • Western Michigan University: College of Education & Human Development
    • Western Michigan University: College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
    • Western Michigan University: College of Fine Arts
    • Western Michigan University: College of Health & Human Services
    • Western Michigan University: Haworth College of Business
    • Western Michigan University: Lee Honors College

1:15 p.m. Session 3: The College Playbook - How to move through college and onto graduation

The College Playbook equips students with the knowledge and confidence to navigate college—honoring who they are, where they come from and the opportunities ahead. This session breaks down the college journey, from preparation and financial aid to finding community and staying on the path to graduation.

2 p.m. Session 4 - Various Topics

  • Student Voices: Real College Experiences
    • Ashley Bravo, Director, College Assistance Migrant Program, Western Michigan University and current WMU students
    • Hear directly from current college students as they share their experiences, insights, and advice about campus life. This session offers a candid look at what it’s really like to be a student—from academics to involvement—followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
  • How to Navigate Barriers and Build a Resilient Mind: De La Lucha al Logro
    • Noemi Mendez, Navigation Specialist for Multicultural Affairs for Students, Western Michigan University
    • Students will gain insight into how understanding and leveraging their personal strengths can help them overcome barriers and reach academic and personal success. This is an interactive session done through storytelling, mindset reflection, and goal setting. Participants will leave inspired, empowered, and equipped with strategies to move from la lucha to el logro. From struggle to achievement.
  • AI is Not Just for Coders: How Latino Students Can Use AI to Learn, Lead, and Build Their Future
    • Jonnathan Resendiz, Assistant Professor, Grand Rapids Community College
    • This interactive session helps Latino students see AI as a tool they can use right now for school, college planning, career exploration, and self-advocacy. Students will learn simple and practical ways to use AI to ask better questions, explore future pathways, strengthen communication, and build confidence in their next steps. The session is designed to be engaging, accessible, and relevant for students from any academic interest area, not just technology.
  • In the Mist: Finding Your Path When You Don't Have All the Answers
    • Dr. Marilyn Barriera-Manrique, Founder / Executive Director, International Language Solutions
    • This workshop is designed for students navigating uncertainty about their future, identity, and direction. Drawing from personal experience and the framework of In the Mist – Healing Through Consciousness, this session explores how confusion, setbacks, and lack of direction are not barriers, but part of the journey toward clarity. Students will reflect on their own experiences, learn how to recognize when they are operating in survival mode, and walk away with practical strategies to begin building direction, confidence, and purpose in their lives.
      • What will they walk away with:
        • Clarity that “not knowing” is part of the process
        • Tools to begin making decisions
        • Confidence in their identity and journey
        • A sense that their story is not the end, it’s the beginning
  • Life After High School: What do we do now?
    • Kimo Smith-Cox, Founder / CEO / College & Career Coach, KSC Holistic Advising
    • Youth will get an overview on the types of degree types (bachelor’s, associate’s, trade). Youth will learn about the ways that they can get access/involved in all of these postsecondary avenues, and how to apply it directly to their lives.
  • Start Local, Think Big: Your Leadership Era
    • Daniel Rivera, Candidate, Daniel Rivera for Wyoming City Council At-Large
    • This interactive workshop is designed to inspire young people to see themselves as future leaders in their communities. Students will learn how local government (such as city councils and school boards) directly impacts their daily lives, and how they can begin their own journey into civic leadership. Through storytelling, real-life examples, and engaging activities, this session will break down what it means to run for office, how to get involved early, and how identity, culture, and lived experiences are powerful tools in leadership.
  • It Starts with YOU: Finding Your Voice in Group Projects
    • Alex Resendez, Academic Advisor, Wayne State University
    • An interactive workshop designed to help students better understand their communication style and how it influences their ability to work in groups. This session encourages students to start with self-awareness by exploring how they take in information, how they process that information, and communicate the information with others. Students will be guided through various reflective questions to better understand their preferred role within groups. By the end of the session, students will have a clearer understanding of their own communication style and practical tools for navigating group projects with confidence. This workshop aims to empower students to recognize that successful teamwork begins with understanding themselves.
  • You + AI: Using Smart Tools to Build a Smarter Future
    • Rodrigo Aranda, PhD, Assistant Professor of Economics, Western Michigan University
    • Artificial intelligence is changing how we learn, work, and make everyday decisions. Students who know how to use it well will have a real advantage. In this interactive session, we will explore practical ways to use AI in college and careers, try a short live activity together, and discuss the skills that make you more valuable, not less, in an AI-powered world.

2:30 p.m. 

  • Optional Campus Tours
  • Dismissal