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VESL Student Wins Essay Contest

ESL student with two instructors
By Mike Taylor

November 20, 2017 - 10:47 AM

Mt. SAC Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) student Luisa Patino recently won the California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) statewide essay writing contest.

She was recognized for her achievement at the CATESOL 2017 annual conference on Oct. 20.

 Patino’s essay is titled “Entrepreneurial Experience.” The essay highlights her personal experience overcoming adversity in Colombia after losing her job in a travel agency and opening her own successful events management company.

 Patino started in Mt. SAC’s ESL program, later enrolled in the VESL program, and is now taking credit classes at the college. Her goal is to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona to earn a master’s in business administration.