National Keynote speaker to highlight the impact of educational leadership

SUNNYVALE, CA — April 3, 2024 — With support from the Assistance League of Los Altos and the Sunnyvale Education Foundation, Columbia Middle will host Ovdilio Vasquez on Wednesday, April 3rd, in the Multipurpose Room at 6 pm at 739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif.

Ovidilio "Ovi" Vásquez is a Social Entrepreneur and National Keynote Speaker who champions the profound impact of educational leadership on the next generation. His evolution from a young farmworker and English learner to the author of six books and a TEDx speaker on Self-Leadership exemplifies this conviction. Today, he is recognized as one of the most compelling, sought-after young luminaries.

He worked for global giants like Apple, Tesla, Salesforce, and Uber, is a frequent guest on Univision, and released a mobile app with $4MM in available scholarships for underprivileged students. Despite obstacles, Vásquez fast-tracked his education, completing high school in three years and earning a B.A. in Management in two, and getting accepted into Harvard Business School Online. A father of three, Vásquez is bilingual, biliterate, and culturally attuned, bringing a wealth of relevant experience and understanding to his audiences.

Quote from CMS Principal Daniel Poo

Through our equity work here at Columbia Middle School, we have been working over the last year on reflecting on our own personal biases in order to make Columbia Middle School a more inclusive environment for all students. In the process, we recognize that to move forward and make the necessary changes, we must look at ourselves and invite multiple perspectives into the conversation.

To find out more about Ovi Vasquez, go to: https://www.ovinspires.com

About Columbia Middle School and The Sunnyvale School District

Columbia Middle School is a part of the Sunnyvale School District learning community and is home to the Juntos Dual-Immersion Spanish English Program. The Sunnyvale School District’s mission is to provide every student with a strong foundation of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional skills to prepare them for success in a diverse, challenging and changing world. The Sunnyvale School District operates a comprehensive preschool program, eight elementary schools, and two middle schools in the heart of the Santa Clara Valley. www.sesd.org