Although Martha Molina didn't win the title of Miss Hispanic Seafair this year, she knows she is making a difference through her involvement with the non-profit Para Los Ninos in Burien.

A 22-year-old graduate of Highline Community College, Molina placed first-runner-up in last week's Miss Hispanic Seafair competition.

Not winning taught Molina that she doesn't "need a crown or sash to be a leader...."

"It is a good feeling to share with the judges what your true passions are," she said of the community platform presentation-her favorite phase of the competition.

Molina volunteers with Para Los Ninos Descubriendo Nuestra Cultura (For the Children: Discovering Our Culture).

The group's vision is "Fostering academic success for every Latino student through parent and community involvement."

The month-long summer program, currently underway, is held at Sunnydale Elementary School. Teachers live or have lived in Mexico.

Enrollment is around 125 students. Parents are charged a $20 fee per child for the entirety of the program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

While the children are taught in Spanish, their parents are learning English.

Baxi Vu, an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher at Highline Community College, said this is her sixth year working with parents at Para Los Ninos. Parents are at "many different levels and most have kids in the program," said Vu.

Maria Teresa Wallace teaches the 1st-3rd-grade class and uses a volunteer to translate:

"When we come [to the United States] sometimes we forget out traditions and don't speak Spanish. I feel it is important to let the kids know where they are from."

Wallace uses colorful displays to explain traditional Mexican celebrations, clothing, foods, toys and currency.

Students in Imelda Sanchez's 4th-6th-grade class eagerly share what they have learned and rave about their teacher.

Yadira Avendano likes the art in Sanchez's class because it brings Mexican history and traditions to life for her.

"This program stops us from watching TV and it gets us to do things with our hands that we'd never think about doing otherwise," said Avendano.

Students like Lizbeth Perez-Valdez, whose parents were born in Mexico, appreciate the fact that they are learning about things their parents did when they were young.

Since the program only runs through 6th grade, Avendano said many students come back to volunteer because they enjoyed their experience in the classroom.

When asked if she was planning to volunteer next year, Avendano gave a beaming smile accompanied by an enthusiastic "Yes!"