Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Ruben Ernesto, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus, has taken his passion for multiculturalism and unity among Nicaraguans and turned it into the non-profit business, Nicaragua Unida.

The company began as a social and cultural group with the goal of teaching children the Nicaraguan culture and uniting Nicaraguans in Wisconsin. It later developed into an international organization, connecting Nicaraguans from around the world.

As part of its mission, Nicaragua Unida sponsors several programs throughout the year, including Los Pinoleros de Nicaragua baseball team, Los Nicoyas basketball team, an annual New Year's formal dinner and dance an annual unity festival. It also promotes English and Spanish fluency programs, literacy programs and conducts financial education seminars. Currently, Nicaragua Unida is working with City of Miracles Association International and Wisconsin Nicaragua Partners to send school supplies and education materials to children in Nicaragua who can't afford them.

With the new year, Ernesto is starting a new company, Ruben Ernesto Inc., which will provide sales training, professional development, financial education and marketing and networking training to companies and consumers. Nicaragua Unida will become Nicaragua Unida Inc. as it sits under the umbrella of Rueben Ernesto Inc.

Ernesto said that he acquired most of his leadership and mentoring skills at UWP. He, with a student board of directors, created Raza United (Race United), the first multicultural student organization at UWP. The group created programming with the goal of uniting the campus and worked with student government to improve the college experience for students. He said he is most proud of the mentoring program they created. Upperclassmen tutored and mentored underclassmen in their studies, student government and student development. He was also involved in basketball, the Chess and Dominoes Club, and boxing and mixed martial arts groups. Ernesto said he also enjoyed the people he interacted with at UWP.

"A special thanks has to go to Ed Deneen (retired registrar) and Joe Lomax (professor of criminal justice). Both of these men are gold in my book and I couldn't have accomplished what I did at UW-Platteville without their guidance," said Ernesto.

Ernesto graduated from UWP in 1998 with a degree in criminal justice with an emphasis in law enforcement and a minor in Spanish. He resides in Waukegan, Ill.

Contact: Ruben Ernesto, director, Nicaragua Unida, (312) 972-0049, tg@rubenerneso.com Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu