What do the U.S. Secretary of Education and an ODI Scholar at The Ohio State University have in common?
More than you might think: Both Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and second-year ODI Scholar (LSS) Anthony Bokar studied education as undergraduates, come from Latino backgrounds, and are passionate about increasing educational opportunities for students.
And both were at the U.S. Department of Education’s Educación en Acción (Education in Action) Summit in Washington D.C. on October 15, thanks to a grant from UnidosUS that allowed Bokar to attend.
“It felt like the stars aligned,” said Bokar, an integrated social studies education major from Coventry, Ohio. “It was a wonderful opportunity, and I’m thankful that it was shared with me.”
Held at the U.S. Department of Education, the one-day summit convened students, educators, administrators, policymakers, and authors to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration. The event featured panel sessions on education-related topics, performances from youth mariachi bands and Latin dancers, and remarks from Secretary Cardona.
Bokar received funding for the trip due to his interest in Latino education policy, a passion he demonstrates in his roles as a resident advisor, LSS Early Arrival Program mentor, and student engagement leader for the Buckeye Student Leadership Academy, a college admissions preparatory program.
“There are a lot of ODI programs that talk about getting out, using your voice, and advocating for what you believe in,” Bokar explained. “They’ve taught me how to advocate in areas I’m passionate about, such as getting opportunities for underrepresented minorities in education.”
While the summit was in part about commemorating the presidential administration’s achievements, it also served to inspire the next generation of educators.
“To see a Latino accomplish so much in the field of education, especially in D.C., is huge,” Bokar commented. “I thought that was amazing, and I saw myself in him and want to be able to do what he does.”
As Bokar returns to Ohio State, he looks forward to applying his experience at the summit to his budding career as a teacher or higher education professional.
“Going into the field of education, I can now share what I learned about advocacy and using your voice with my own students,” Bokar said. “Even better, I can inspire them to do the same.”