Homemade tamales to fund leadership course

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By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)

Originally published 02:59 p.m., May 21, 2008
Updated 02:59 p.m., May 21, 2008

Oasis Hernandez, an Emporia Middle School student, will sell freshly homemade tamales to raise money for a leadership conference she plans to attend later this year.

Oasis, who is 12 years old, said in a news release that her mother and aunt will help make the tamales, which will sell for $15 a dozen. The food will be wrapped, packed, and hand-delivered, she said.

She was chosen to attend the National Young Leaders State Conference after being nominated by her advanced mathematics teacher, Tiffany Shogren. Oasis, who was home-schooled for four years, said she has a 4.0 grade-point average since coming into the public schools in sixth grade. She participates in the gifted program in the Emporia school district.

She also was one of six local students recently chosen to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. Oasis qualified for that distinction by scoring equal to or higher than high school students on the ACT or SAT tests.

The cost of the four-day leadership conference is $1,430, according to the NYLSC Web site. The figure includes meals and some transportation costs.

“My parents have decided to pay half,” Oasis wrote in the news release. “I volunteered to earn the rest.”

Orders may be placed by calling Lorie Hernandez, 757-1987 or 342-7173.

More information is available from Lorie Hernandez or by e-mailing Shogren at tiffany.shogren@usd253.org.

The organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group, will provide training in preparing for challenges, leadership skills, public speaking and shaping futures.