UC Merced HSA hosts an annual Educational Conference here at UC Merced. It is conference where high school students can come to gain more information about pursuing higher education. As a minority group, there are still many incoming first generation Hmong American college students. The members of the club recognize the roadblocks that come with being first generation because many members have crossed those roadblocks before. The purpose of this conference is to build a space where students of all background can gather to better understand the system of higher education. In this conference, we host workshops in all fields such as the medical field where we bring in Hmong professionals who work in the field. There are also workshops about mental health, financial aid, and more. In the workshops, presenters are encouraged to engage with the audience and share their expertise with the high school students in hopes of helping them choose their careers. Throughout the conference, students also engage in activities which are intended to help them navigate through the Hmong and American cultures while finding their sole identity. Many friendships and mentor/mentee relationships have been formed through this conference. EdCon happens every November and applications will be open in  October.