Lathrop High Principal Mike Horwood was raised in a non-English speaking, single-parent household.So he greatly understood Parent Institute for Quality Education’s goal of creating a college-going culture.“I know how hard is to have a mother who had hard time communicating (with the schools),” said Horwood at the first-ever PIQE parent graduation on Thursday.His mother was from the Netherlands. The first-year principal not only graduated college but was the first in his family to earn a master’s degree and doctorate.Horwood was thrilled to see the importance of education passed on to 59 parents involved in the nine-week course that began in early February.According to PIQE associate director Gabriela Ramirez, the lessons learned included the understanding of the high school system, recognizing the importance of the grade point average (GPA), discussing higher education options, and identifying the difference financial aid options, to name a few.“We know that education is the key to success,” said parent Maria Teresa Lopez, who was one of two guest speakers from the program taught this year in Spanish.“We’re hoping to offer it next year in English and Punjabi,” Ramirez said.Lathrop High is made up 49 percent Hispanic, Horwood said. Of that, 10 percent are English as Second Language learners.Ana Padilla was grateful of PIQE.“We, as parents, were not able to help our students due to the lack of understanding the language,” she said.