USD Magazine, Spring 2000

last May wid1 a double major in Spanish and rheology, Coyre will mostly likely reach third grade next year at Mecca's elementary school. Bue she's not done with her education yet. "I wane ro get a master's degree and a Ph.D. in rheology," says Coyre, who was part of the first gro up of Mecca youths who visited the campus. "Eventually I'd like ro be a university professo r ... maybe at US D.'' To Sister Shaffer and rhe USD students who participate in rhe project, Coyre is d1e ideal example of what a kid from Mecca can accomplish when given a chance. Before meeting with USD students, Coyre had co n– sidered college, but hadn't made it a priority. Ar best, she expected ro attend communi ty college in San Bernardino. T hings changed when she met with USD srudencs and saw

"We get them our in the world so they can see what it's like," says Sister Par Shaffer, a retired chemistry professo r and faculty adviser ro the club. "These are good kids from good families, bur they have a hard rime seeing beyond high schoo l graduation. We try ro raise their hopes and show them more possi bilities." Getting a Chance If rhe Mecca Yo uth Gro up Project, as rhe Founders C lub effo rt is known , ever needs a poster child , they can call on Lupita Coyre. O f the almost 200 teenagers from Mecca who have visi ted USD since the project's inception almost a decade ago, she's one who has brought the program full circle. Now back in Mecca afrer grad uating from USD

The off-season between harvests forces many of the adults in Mecca to await word of work, and men often gather in the town center to pass the time. Alcala Park. Coyre fell in love with the campus and the commu nity atmosphere. Admitted th rough the un iversity's Equal Opportuni ty Program, which supports disadvantaged students during the

by Michael R. Haskins