Latino students make up nearly 25% of Oregon’s K–12 public school population yet face persistent barriers to college access. Nationally, only 58% of Hispanic high school completers enrolled in college immediately in 2022 and about 23% of Latinos ages 25 to 29 had earned a bachelor’s degree by 2021.
The OSU Extension program relies on culturally grounded mentorship, academic preparation and family engagement to help Latino families across Oregon see college not just as a dream — but as a lived reality.
To address these gaps, Oregon State University Extension Service launched Juntos in 2012. Meaning “together” in Spanish, Juntos is delivered by OSU Extension in 23 Oregon counties. It offers bilingual, culturally responsive programming for eighth through 12th grade students and their families to navigate college systems together.
Juntos stands out for its family-centered approach. Signature events like Juntos Family Day and Juntos en Familia connect families with colleges, admissions, financial aid and campus life. In 2023, more than 1,250 participants from 60 school districts attended Family Day at OSU's Corvallis campus. In 2024, OSU-Cascades in Bend hosted Family Day for 86 families from Central and Eastern Oregon. Delivered in Spanish, these programs included workshops, tours, panels and cultural celebration.
After 2023 Family Day, 86% of students believed they could see themselves in college, 87% felt a stronger sense of belonging, and 77% said they were likely to attend Oregon State.
Mentorship continues beyond high school. In Eastern Oregon, five of six Blue Mountain Community College CAMP participants were former Juntos students who worked with their coordinator into college — highlighting the long-term support that Juntos fosters.
Juntos also adapts to community needs. In spring 2023, the bilingual Juntos MedQuest Camp, in partnership with Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center, One Community Health and Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue, gave Gorge youth hands-on exposure to health care through job shadowing and CPR training. Surveys reported strong gains in confidence, career understanding and belonging in health care.
In Tillamook County, Juntos Afuera connects youths to the outdoors while celebrating Latinx identity. Feedback showed 84% of participants are likely to continue outdoor activities, and all valued culturally representative leadership. Similarly, in Central Oregon, a collaboration with Vámonos Outside offered rafting, biking and outdoor college-prep activities with bilingual support and transportation — expanding access and building community bonds.
In June 2023, Academia Juntos, a four-day residential camp on OSU’s Corvallis campus, welcomed 34 high schoolers. Participants lived in dorms, attended labs and workshops across STEM, business and pharmacy, and addressed challenges such as imposter syndrome and cultural adjustment. Students left inspired and better equipped for applying to college and financial aid.
The PASOS | STEPS curriculum pilot in 2024 supported students in 10 counties through bilingual Google Classroom modules — from FAFSA to scholarship applications and first-year readiness — helping more than 100 students statewide.
Since 2012, Juntos has served more than 5,500 students and families in 100 schools across 40 communities. Among participants, high school graduation is nearly 100%, and 92% go on to post-secondary education.
OSU’s Juntos team has shared its impact at peer-reviewed conferences and in a Journal of Extension research brief. The program’s evaluation framework now informs national tools used by Juntos 4-H programs in nine states.
With culturally grounded mentorship, academic preparation and family engagement, OSU Extension’s Juntos program is helping Latino families across Oregon see college not just as a dream — but as a lived reality.
