Cyndi Loza

Among topics of fundraisers, events and group business, the Sparks High School Hispanic Club asked its members a question.

“Raise your hand if you know what the DREAM Act is,” said Sparks senior Giovana Armendariz to a group of 36 Sparks students.

After a handful of students raised their hands, Sparks senior Mayra Ramirez explained the piece of proposed federal legislation that would provide achieving illegal immigrant high school students the opportunity to obtain permanent residency in the United States. DREAM stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors,

Ramirez, 17, of Sun Valley felt the topic was important.

“There’s probably kids in (the room) that don’t have papers and they’re discouraged to go to college because, since they don’t have papers, they think it’s not going to be possible for them,” Ramirez said.

The club has about 70 members who regularly discuss such issues. They also plan events throughout the year to raise scholarship money for Sparks students planning to attend college.

“As Hispanics, we’re expected to fail, we’re expected to be beaten down and we want to go against that. We want to show that we’re equal to everybody else,” Ramirez said.

Armendariz, 17, said the club also serves as a useful resource for students.

“All we want to do is get our students on track and in school to actually graduate from high school so we don’t have such a high rate of dropouts,” Armendariz said. “We also want to get them to go to college and to get involved in the community.”