Hispanic Youth Symposium

Symposium draws growing support from local community

Website Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:20:38 +0000

Baltimore-The Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium, held at Towson University July 9-12, has gained a host of new sponsors, volunteers, and community partners over the past month. The Baltimore and larger Maryland community have enthusiastically collaborated on ensuring that local students will meet Hispanic heroes, interact with model college students, and obtain knowledge on the college application process.

In addition to hosting the symposium on its campus, Towson University will be offering a $500 grant renewable for 4 years, totaling up to $2,000, to any of the 1,300 students who attend one of the seven symposia held across the country this summer. Eligible students must apply and get accepted to Towson University. The generosity of Towson is sure to benefit students who will walk away inspired to attend college while more able to finance their education.

Winners of competitions in Art, Speech, Essay, and Talent will receive scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund-a total of $14,000 will be awarded. Towson University will add to the jackpot by offering up to $2,000 in matching scholarships to competition winners.

The importance of voting

Voto Latino, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI), and the Hispanic College Fund are partnering to get Maryland HYS students registered to vote. Those students who are and will be turning 18 by November 4 will register at the symposium with the help of a registrar provided by USHLI. All students, regardless of age at the time of the symposium, will learn why every vote counts in an election and why it is important to engage in local and national politics. As national attention continues to focus on the Hispanic vote leading up to the 2008 Presidential Election, students will see the power of voting come to life in November. In order to ensure that students stay engaged in the voting process after the symposium, students will be directed to use Voto Latino’s user friendly online voter registration mechanism.

“After 26 years and with over 2 million registered voters, USHLI knows the impact that face-to-face voter education has on our community,” said Cesar Moreno, Associate Executive Director for the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. “This direct contact with students helps make all the difference. Students not only understand how to register to vote but why it’s important to encourage their family members and peers to register as well. We are thrilled to collaborate with Voto Latino and the Hispanic College Fund for this important cause.”

Interacting with students

Prominent Hispanic leaders in Maryland will interact one-on-one with students while serving as inspiring role models. Hispanic leaders will share stories of how they triumphed over adversity and persevered when faced with an obstacle. Students will be able to ask the heroes questions in an encouraging environment.

“When I speak to the students, I want them to be inspired by my story of success,” said Ruby Stemmle, Executive Director for the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs and Hispanic Youth Symposium volunteer. “In order for them to believe success is possible, however, they have to relate to me and see themselves in who I was as a teen. While I like sharing stories of working for the Governor, I make it a point to start at the beginning, growing up in Columbia and later transitioning into a successful career in the U.S. My message is always, ‘If I can do it, you can too.’”

“Ernie G”, a renowned Hispanic comedian, will also interact with students while serving as a motivational speaker. The first to graduate from his family, he demonstrates the importance of education and perseverance. Students relate to his comedy because he shares his personal experience as a Latino growing up in Los Angeles.

The Hispanic Youth Symposium Alumni Association members will serve as spokespeople at this year’s Maryland symposium by sharing with students how HYS made a positive impact in their lives. The group, created in March 2008, consists of former HYS participants who meet twice a month to strategize on getting HYS alumni to give back to their communities.

“I participated in the Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium in 2007. It really did make a positive difference in my life, so when I had the opportunity to work with other students who were affected in the same way, I couldn’t turn it down,” said Daniel Hernandez, Hispanic College Fund Alumni Association Secretary. “So far the alumni group has about 300 members and will keep growing. We look forward to meeting students in Maryland and hope to recruit them after HYS.”

Toastmasters International has provided the alumni association with free workshops on public speaking, interacting with the media, and negotiations.

Supporting the symposium

Sponsors of the Maryland symposium include Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente, Marriott, Sallie Mae, and Northrop Grumman. New sponsors who have joined the effort to make HYS a success include MasterCard, Southwest Airlines, and Telemundo.

Kenneth J. Disken, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin said, “My Corporation has a tremendous need for talent in terms of quantity and quality…we have become much more aware of our responsibility to invest time and resources in developing the workforce of the future, especially with regard to youth traditionally underrepresented in engineering and science. The bottom line is that HCF is a terrific investment.”

Lockheed Martin runs a unique engineering workshop. Students are divided into teams to construct an airplane out of legos. Given a set of rules and instructions, teams compete in order to learn about engineering. In addition to having fun, students learn the value of problem solving, creative thinking, and team work.

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. (LUL), a national Latino based multicultural fraternal organization, will be providing 35-40 volunteers to symposia on the east coast. In 2006 the fraternity began its involvement with the Hispanic College Fund when its members, known as Hermanos, first volunteered at the Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium as part of their regional community service. The relationship has since been solidified into a partnership and continues to grow with each subsequent year.

“LUL’s relationship with HCF allows our Hermanos to exercise their power as university and professional role models to encourage Latino students to not only think about going to college and getting a degree, but also about how they may use those experiences to become involved in helping their community and society at large,” said George Laws García, LUL’s National Director of Community Service.

The Social Security Administration has also donated time to HYS. Felicita Sola-Carter, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the Social Security Administration (SSA) will be speaking during the symposium’s closing ceremony. In addition, over 100 volunteers from the SSA employee volunteer network have come forward to assist with the symposium.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), a long time partner of the Hispanic College Fund, will provide career development workshops for all resident assistants who lead HYS student groups on campus. HHF will also provide peer role models who will speak to students about their personal journey from internship to professional career.

On June 6, the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium website was launched. Students, volunteers, sponsors, and anyone who wants to learn more about the symposium can find all they need to know on the site.

Registration for the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium is now closed to students but open to anyone who would like to volunteer.

To visit the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium website, please go to: www.hispanicyouth.org-md

About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years HCF has provided scholarships and, since its founding, has incorporated internship and mentoring programs for students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The result is a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, and math.

The Hispanic College Fund has an annual budget of $6 million with 20 full-time employees. In 2006, the Hispanic College Fund received the Brillante award for “Nonprofit of the Year” from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and in 2007 was recognized by USA Today as one of the nation’s top 25 charities.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

Yale and Other Schools to Reach Out to Hispanic and Native American Students During Upcoming Symposium

Website Administrator — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:24:01 +0000

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - One hundred underserved high school students will be exposed to a variety of colleges and universities during the upcoming New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium, which will be held on the campus of the University of New Mexico from July 9-12, 2008. University representatives have been invited by the Hispanic College Fund and New Mexico Math Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA) to explain their application processes and introduce their schools to the students.

Colleges and universities that are scheduled to participate include the College of Santa Fe, the College of the Southwest, The Colorado College, Hasting College, Luna Community College, New Mexico State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. John’s College, the University of New Mexico, and Yale University.

“This is the first time that the Hispanic Youth Symposium will be held in New Mexico,” said Fernando Barrueta, Hispanic College Fund CEO. “We are very excited to be able to bring together so many excellent colleges and universities to speak one-on-one with these students, many of whom will be first generation college achievers. Introducing them to the very admissions counselors who can advise them on requirements and essay writing is an opportunity they will have never had before. It’s also a great opportunity for these colleges to reach talented students.”

“The exposure that colleges and universities receive through their participation is beneficial for both the communities in the area and for the University itself,” said Adam Torres, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University. “Yale’s participation with the Hispanic College Fund and its partnerships in general reflects its commitment to diversity as it aims to present the opportunities it possesses to and for all communities.”

The New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium is a year-round program that guides and inspires Hispanic and Native American high school students to achieve a college education and professional career in business, science, technology, engineering, and math. The program will begin with a four-day, three-night kick-off event on the campus of the University of New Mexico in July, where the students will participate in an intense array of workshops and competitions that teach the students about how to apply for college, take a leadership role in school and their communities, and pursue a professional career.

During intensive college preparatory workshops, the students will be taught about taking the SAT, the importance of college preparatory coursework, writing a college essay, and paying for a college education.

Later in the program, the students will be provided with personalized business cards and encouraged to network among the participating colleges during a college and career fair. During the fair the students will speak with the college admissions and recruiting representatives to ask questions about admission requirements, college majors, financial aid, and any other issues the students wish to address.

In 2008 the Hispanic College Fund Youth Symposium will be offered in seven cities: Fresno, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Fairfax, VA; and Richmond, VA. It is expected that the program will expand to Southern California and other regions in 2009.

Sponsors of the program include the National Nuclear Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, the New Mexico Legislature, Wells Fargo, General Dynamics C4 Systems, the University of New Mexico, the USDA, Applied Research Associates, Sandia National Laboratories, Inquiry Facilitators, the New Mexico State Human Resource Management Council, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the NM Optics Industry Association, Google, and the New Mexico Office of Workforce Solutions.

To participate, students must be residents of New Mexico; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; complete an application and essay; submit $10.00 (waived on request); and be Hispanic or Native American or relate to Hispanic culture.

To learn more about the Hispanic Youth Symposium in New Mexico, visit http://www.hispanicyouth.org/symposium-new-mexico.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

About New Mexico Math, Engineering, Science Achievement
New Mexico Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement (NM MESA), Inc. is a non-profit organization and part of a national initiative promoting educational enrichment for pre-college students from historically under-represented ethnic groups. NM MESA prepares these students for college majors and careers in mathematics, engineering, science and related fields. NM MESA is a statewide program with year-round activities that include tutoring; academic, university, and career counseling; field trips; academic competitions; leadership development, summer programs; teacher professional development; and scholarship incentives.

Website: www.nmmesa.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

NOTED HISPANIC LEADER RAUL YZAGUIRRE TO CHAIR FIRST HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM IN PHOENIX

Website Administrator — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:26:22 +0000

200 High School Students to Learn About College and Career Opportunities

PHOENIX, AZ - Raul Yzaguirre, Presidential Professor of Practice in Community Development and Civil Rights at Arizona State University and former President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), will chair the upcoming Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium to be held July 16-19, 2008, at Arizona State University’s West Campus. This inaugural symposium will provide 200 students from throughout the region with the information about preparing for college and professional careers. The Hispanic Youth Symposium is presented by the Hispanic College Fund, in partnership with the AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute (AGUILA).

“This is an event I am proud to participate in,” said Yzaguirre. “It is vital that our young people prepare for their future, continuing their education and preparing for careers in fields that are key to our future economy. This symposium will help them realize that college is not an impossible dream; that they can attend college and succeed. Many are the first in their family to be able to reach their goal of a college education and a well-paying career.”

The four-day symposium will provide the high school students with essential information about college and professional careers in business, science, technology, engineering, and math through workshops, inspirational mentors, and leadership opportunities. Attendance at the symposium includes a year-round follow-up program to further assist the students with preparing for college and careers.

“We are honored to have Raul Yzaguirre join us at the symposium as chair and keynote speaker. He is an icon in the Hispanic community, known for his civil rights advocacy for Latinos throughout the nation. As head of the NCLR, Raul inspired countless young Latinos and Latinas to go on to serve in state legislatures, shine in academia, and become leaders in both the public and private sectors,” said Fernando Barrueta, Hispanic College Fund CEO.

While Hispanic students in Arizona have received scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund in the past, this is the first time they will be able to attend a local symposium geared for them.

The program enjoys widespread community support. AGUILA is partnering with the Hispanic College Fund as the regional symposium host to raise community awareness about the benefits of the initiative, produce the symposium, recruit students, and coordinate year-round educational programs. Arizona State University is subsidizing the cost of meeting space and dorm rooms.

Sponsors of the program include the Helios Foundation, Arizona State University, Wells Fargo, General Dynamics C4 Systems, the Maricopa Community College District, SCF Arizona, Salt River Project, Frito-Lay, Google, Jobing, the Social Security Administration, and Talon Community Services.

To participate, students must be residents Maricopa County; have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; complete an application and essay; and be Hispanic.

To learn more about the Hispanic Youth Symposium in Phoenix, visit http://www.hispanicyouth.org/symposium-phoenix.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund provides Hispanic high school and college students with the vision, resources, and mentorship needed to become community leaders and achieve successful careers in business, science, technology, engineering, and math. For 15 years the Hispanic College Fund has provided scholarships and programs to students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, establishing a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

About the AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute
The AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute (AGUILA) is a unique college access program for Latino and Latina youth that helps to build a web of support through consistency and powerful messaging. Students begin AGUILA as high school juniors, attending monthly seminars focusing on personal growth, leadership and college preparation for continuation into AGUILA’s intense senior program.

Participation in the Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium will provide sophomores the opportunity to join AGUILA in the spring of 2009 as part of AGUILA’s vision to ultimately serve high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Seniors continue to meet once a month focusing on college admissions and funding as well as participation in activities that promote cultural heritage, academic success, civic engagement, leadership, positive self-esteem and healthy relationships. Seniors are honored at a special celebration in May of each year, marking their rite of passage from high school to college in the AGUILA Honors Convocation. AGUILA then provides follow-up and continued support for students through the AGUILA Alumni Association as the students matriculate through college.

Website: www.aguilayouth.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

LT. GOVERNOR DENISH AND ALEX O. ROMERO TO CO-CHAIR FIRST HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM IN ALBUQUERQUE

Website Administrator — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:29:23 +0000

100 New Mexico students to learn about college and career opportunities

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce CEO Alex O. Romero will co-chair the upcoming New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium in July. The inaugural symposium will be held at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque July 9-12, 2008. It is being hosted by the Hispanic College Fund and New Mexico Math Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA).

“I am pleased to chair this important event,” Lt. Governor Denish said. “The Hispanic College Fund gives youths a chance to deepen their knowledge in areas that form the backbone of our current and future economy. These students will take a step toward successful, well-paying careers - and help us attract forward-looking businesses.”

The four-day symposium will provide 100 New Mexico Hispanic and Native American high school students with essential information about college and professional careers through workshops, inspirational mentors, and leadership opportunities. Attendance at the symposium includes a year-round follow-up program to further assist the students with preparing for college.

“The Hispanic Youth Symposium helps students realize that they can attend and succeed in college and in their chosen career. It’s an honor to co-chair this important event. The fields of business, science, technology, engineering and math offer great career opportunities for the future and this symposium helps prepare them for the road to success,” said Alex O. Romero, CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

Lt. Governor Denish chairs the Children’s Cabinet, which combines the forces of state agencies that touch every aspect of children’s lives. The goal is to ensure both a stable society and a stable economy by raising healthy, well-educated children ready to move into the workforce. She has spoken at NM MESA events throughout her tenure.

Alex O. Romero is a former banking executive and longtime community leader. He has led the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce since 2004. The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is a promotional partner of the Youth Symposium.

“Our co-chairs this year are both wonderful role models for the youth attending,” said Fern Barrueta, Hispanic College Fund CEO. “Lt. Governor Denish, the first woman to serve as New Mexico’s Lt. Governor, is a strong advocate for education issues. Alex Romero is a well-respected business leader in the state and we are honored he can support us.”

The program enjoys widespread community support. New Mexico Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA) Inc. is partnering with the Hispanic College Fund to help identify and recruit students and to coordinate year-round educational programs. The University of New Mexico is subsidizing the cost of meeting space and dorm rooms.

Sponsors of the event include the National Nuclear Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, the New Mexico Legistature, Wells Fargo, General Dynamics C4 Systems, the University of New Mexico, the USDA, Applied Research Associates, Sandia National Laboratories, Inquiry Facilitators, the New Mexico State Human Resource Management Council, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the NM Optics Industry Association, and Google.

To learn more about the Hispanic Youth Symposium in New Mexico, visit http://www.hispanicyouth.org/symposium-new-mexico.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

Website: www.nmmesa.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

VIRGINIA HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIA TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE 400 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Website Administrator — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:25:58 +0000

Symposium born of results-driven national program offering college preparation skills, leadership development, and support throughout year

VIRGINIA - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop and grow the next generation of Hispanic professionals will guide 400 promising high school students on a path to achieving college degrees and careers in Virginia this summer.

The Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be launched at the University of Richmond on July 16-19 and George Mason University on August 6-9 by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional career. The symposia will serve promising Hispanic students, encouraging and guiding them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

Boasting an impressive track record in several major U.S. cities, the symposium has grown into a four-day event and one-year follow-up program designed to increase Latino knowledge of the milestones and prerequisites needed to prepare for and attend college.

In Virginia, the Hispanic Youth Symposia will inspire students to nurture their ambitions and teach pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement. The Virginia symposia were born of last year’s Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium; thanks to its four years of growth and success, the DC program was split into three symposia in 2008.

The Office of Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine has provided significant support to the Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposium, including volunteers as well as funding this year.

“We are very excited that the Commonwealth will be hosting two Hispanic Youth Symposia this summer,” Governor Kaine said. “Exposing more of our Latino students to the resources they need to navigate the college process is at the core of the mission of the Hispanic Youth Symposia. We are very fortunate to have a diverse student body in our K-12 system and the symposia will ensure that our Latino student population continues to increase its representation at the higher education level.”

“Research has shown that one of the most significant barriers to Latinos attending college is a lack of knowledge about the college preparation process,” said Hispanic College Fund President Idalia Fernandez. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium provides Latino students information, mentors and, best of all, the knowledge that yes, college is possible,” Fernandez said.

The number of Hispanics living in Virginia tripled between 1990 and 2006, according to a study released earlier this year by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. “Considering that as recently as 2006, only 12.5% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree, the lowest rate of any group in the United States, the Hispanic Youth Symposium is working to effectively boost this statistic,” Fernandez said.

Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund has shown that after students participated in symposia throughout the United States - including Fresno, Calif. and Baltimore, Md. - they significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and dramatically raised their interest in pursuing internships and volunteering in their communities. The large majority reported gaining a positive role model/mentor from the program. At the conclusion of last year’s symposium in Washington, DC, 81 percent of the students considered themselves college-bound.

Werner Parilla, 20, is a Bucknell University engineering student on a full-tuition scholarship from attending the 2006 Greater Washington Symposium. He said the nomination and scholarship award made it possible for him to fulfill his dream of attending college.

“I had an amazing experience. The Hispanic Youth Symposium taught me networking skills and the fundamentals to college and career success that you just don’t learn in school,” he said. “I think that’s the most important part of symposium - it brings in Hispanic professionals who are really, really successful. They showed us that success is in reach. Every single last one of the students left inspired, thinking they could make it. That’s what has driven a lot of us to succeed.”

The University of Richmond is serving as a university partner in the Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposium in Richmond in July, providing facilities and funding and assisting with administration and logistics.

“While most young people hear about college, they often don’t really have any idea what going to college is all about,” said John McCulla, University of Richmond’s director of community relations. “That’s especially true for young people who could be the first member of their families to go to college. We hope that hosting the symposium at the University of Richmond will give them a clear picture of how exciting and rewarding higher education can be. And we hope that they and their families will take home the knowledge that financial aid is available to make college economically possible for almost any qualified student.”

George Mason University will host the Fairfax symposium in August as university partner to the Hispanic College Fund.

“The University is honored to be joining the effort to bring the symposium to area students this year,” said George Mason’s director of Summer Term Cathy Evans. The symposium dovetails with George Mason’s Early Identification Program, which focuses on students who are the first in their families to attend college.

“We anticipate this to be the beginning of an exciting and rewarding partnership,” Evans said. “I am delighted that the students will have an opportunity to experience life on a university campus. It’s one thing to see something on TV or hear about it, but to actually come to a university, take classes, learn new things - this experience will benefit them immeasurably. It will inspire the confidence that they, too, can apply for college and pursue a degree, leading to a fulfilling and productive career.”

To help administer the symposium in both Richmond and Fairfax, about 150 community volunteers will be engaged to assist with everything from logistics coordination to talent show judging. Approximately 20 college student resident advisors who work as volunteers also are being recruited to help with the symposium management at each campus.

“The Hispanic College Fund depends on its community partners to help reach students and mobilize support from local donations to volunteers,” said Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund. “We bring national sponsorships and visibility to the communities that we serve - and national opportunities for students - but we rely on the local support to make the program as successful and personal as it is. It truly will help shape the next workforce of scientific and technical graduates in these communities,” Barrueta said.

PNC Bank is a local supporter of the Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposium in Fairfax for a second time this year.

“We are proud to support the Hispanic Youth Symposium, which we have found to be a valuable and effective program for connecting education to the Hispanic community,” said Matthew Gracie, PNC group segment manager for multicultural banking.

In addition to funding and providing volunteers at the symposium, PNC bank runs a workshop for students to motivate and educate them about financial services and investing. Gracie, who created the workshop’s financial services game, said it was a hit with students, who learned by investing play money in a speedy timeframe how to reap rewards by sticking to a balanced strategy.

“There was an enormous amount of energy in the room as we played,” Gracie said. “Not only was it rewarding to sense the excitement students experienced in making sound financial decisions, it was a bonus to see students express an interest in pursuing a career in the financial services industry - something they might not have contemplated otherwise.”

Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposia sponsors also include Governor Kane/Assembly, PNC Bank and Kaiser Permanente.

The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:

* Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
* Are Hispanic
* Have completed the application to participate
* Are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school
* In Richmond, attend school in Chesterfield County, Richmond City, Henrico County, Spotsylvania County, Virginia Beach City, or Harrisonburg City.
* In Fairfax, attend school in Fairfax, Alexandria City, Arlington, Prince William or Loudoun counties

In order to track the results of each symposium, the Hispanic College Fund will conduct pre- and post-event surveys to determine whether students show a marked improvement in their understanding of the college application process, the financial aid process, and the role that community involvement and high school academic achievement play in the college preparation process. Also, the Hispanic College Fund will conduct a longitudinal study of its student participants to track how their college preparation improves, whether they go to college, the caliber of the college they attend, and the kind of career they pursue upon graduation.

In May, the website of the Virginia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years HCF has provided scholarships and, since its founding, has incorporated internship and mentoring programs for students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The result is an established career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, and math.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

CSU-FRESNO CHAMPIONS HIGHER EDUCATION FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS BY SUPPORTING CENTRAL VALLEY HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM

Website Administrator — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:24:17 +0000

FRESNO, CA - Two years ago, Veronica Garcia attended her first Central Valley Hispanic Youth Symposium. Last year, she made a film about it. Now, she is a college freshman at Fresno State University with an eye on a major in communications and a well-earned pride in her success.

“It was kind of hard for me to take off for college because I am the first child in my family to leave, the first to go to college,” Garcia said. “But I don’t regret anything. I love living in Fresno and going to school. I love planning for my future.”

Garcia, 19, is one of many students who credit the Hispanic Youth Symposium with handing them the knowledge and courage to apply for and attend college.

Her campus, CSU Fresno, has been a major supporter of the Hispanic Youth Symposium since its inception three years ago, and again will host it this year on July 24-27, helping inspire and guide 150 promising high school students to choose college and careers in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

CSU Fresno Director of University Outreach Services Francis Peña-Olguin called the Hispanic Youth Symposium a “win-win situation” for all involved, from the educational partners to the youth motivated into higher education and leadership. The university supports the Central Valley Hispanic Youth Symposium with in-kind staff, space, and logistics.

“We saw a great opportunity to partner with HCF and reach out to Hispanic youth in our area, which is extremely important to us,” Peña-Olguin said. “We have a real long-term commitment - it truly comes from the top down.”

She said students transform during the symposium and appear to establish permanent relationships with other students and mentors. “It’s amazing how they come together as a group, and I think it gives them a wonderful opportunity to be on campus, live on campus, go to class; it’s like being a college student already, and many first-generation Hispanics have not had any exposure to college before.”

The California Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CV-HEC) is serving as the Hispanic College Fund’s lead community partner to help deliver the symposium in Fresno again this year. CV-HEC, a nonprofit partnership of 23 accredited colleges and universities in the area, is assisting with recruitment, office space, program promotion, and networking with community partners.

“The collaboration amongst all the valley colleges and universities for this symposium has been outstanding. In particular, CSU Fresno has really stepped up to the plate to host the event,” said CV-HEC Executive Director Cheri Cruz.

She credits CSU President Dr. John D. Welty as a strong supporter of the Hispanic Youth Symposium since its inception three years ago.

“He really believes in the vision of Hispanic College Fund to encourage students to graduate high school and attend college, provide students with professional mentors and career support, and inspire students to improve their communities,” Cruz said.

Welty in turn praised the Hispanic Youth Symposium from the perspective of a university with great success and interest in supporting education in the Hispanic community.

“At Fresno State, we have a long history of encouraging Hispanics to enroll and graduate, and we have consistently ranked as one of the top Hispanic-serving institutions in the country,” Welty said. “We believe our partnership with the Hispanic College Fund is an important and effective tool in encouraging a college-going culture among Hispanic youth.”

CV-HEC President Frank Gornick pointed out that the symposium’s investment in students today will improve the community tomorrow. “Investing in our youth in the HYS will help grow the economy of the Central Valley,” he said.

Boasting an impressive track record in several major U.S. cities, the Hispanic Youth Symposium has grown into a four-day event and one-year follow-up program designed to increase Latino knowledge of the milestones and prerequisites needed to prepare for and attend college. This year in Fresno, it will inspire more students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.

Veronica Garcia, who was recruited into the program by the U.S. Forest Service Central California Consortium, filmed and produced a short documentary of students’ perceptions before and after the experience. It was her first opportunity to do something professional with her passion for video editing.

“In the beginning, it seemed (students) didn’t know what to expect, and toward the end, I was just amazed at how they were able to open up, ask questions, and communicate. I think they really got the feel for college, too,” she said.

A website with detailed information regarding the Central Valley Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released in May. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

To watch Veronica’s documentary on the symposium, please visit http://www.vimeo.com/1004063.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM RETURNS TO MARYLAND TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE 200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Website Administrator — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:17:04 +0000

Symposium born of results-driven national program offering college preparation skills, leadership development, and support throughout year

BALTIMORE - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop and grow the next generation of Hispanic professionals is returning to Maryland in July to guide 200 promising high school students on a path to achieving college degrees and careers.

The fifth annual Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium will be launched at Towson University on July 9-12, 2008, by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional careers. The symposium will serve promising students from counties in north-central Maryland, encouraging them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

Boasting an impressive track record in several major U.S. cities, the Hispanic Youth Symposium has grown into a four-day event and one-year follow-up program designed to increase Latino knowledge of the milestones and prerequisites needed to prepare for and attend college. This year in Baltimore, it will inspire more students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.

U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education (USHYEE) has been with the symposium since its inception, providing leadership and helping coordinate the volunteer effort. USHYEE President Luis E. Borunda said it is fast becoming one of the premier programs to focus on Hispanic high school students’ transition to college.

“One of the reasons why the Hispanic College Fund and U.S. Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education make such a great team is because we have similar goals in terms of reaching Hispanic youth and their education, especially on the high school-to-college continuum,” Borunda said. “The exciting thing is that so many of our kids here in Maryland are first-generation potential college students.”

About 6 percent of the population in the Maryland is Hispanic, and it is growing at a rapid pace. This week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the population and the largest minority group in the United States. Yet their rate of completing higher education is relatively low.

“As recently as 2006, only 12.5% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree, the lowest rate of any group in the United States,” said Hispanic College Fund President Idalia Fernandez. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium is working to effectively boost this statistic.”

Research has shown that one of the most significant barriers to Latinos attending college is a lack of knowledge about the college preparation process. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium provides Latino students information, mentors and, best of all, the knowledge that yes, college is possible,” Fernandez said.

Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund had shown that participants in the symposia significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and their interest in internships and community volunteering, as well as having gained a positive role model/mentor.

Towson University in Baltimore is providing financial support, logistics, and scholarships to the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium. Assistant Provost Catherine Horta-Hayden praised the partnership between Towson, USHYEE, and the Hispanic College Fund as an important part of her institution’s mission.

“Towson University is committed to the academic and social success of Hispanic Youth and is interested in strongly encouraging youth to stay in high school and pursue degrees in higher education,” Horta-Hayden said. “Towson University is committed to increasing the number of Hispanic students on our campus and to creating an inclusive environment that supports the ongoing success of the Hispanic Community. Hosting the Hispanic Youth Symposium at Towson University helps to promote and develop a “college going” vision for our Hispanic Youth.

Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund, said the organization depends on its community partners such as USHYEE to help reach students and mobilize support from local donations to volunteers.

“We bring national sponsorships and visibility to the communities that we serve - and national opportunities for students - but we rely on the local support to make the program as successful and personal as it is. It truly will help shape the next workforce of scientific and technical graduates in these communities,” Barrueta said.

Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium sponsors also include Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, and MasterCard. The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:

Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Are Hispanic
Have completed the application to participate
Are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school
Are residents of Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Carroll or Frederick counties

In addition, at least 150 community volunteers will be engaged to assist with everything from logistics coordination to talent show judging. Approximately 20 college student resident advisors also are being recruited to help with the symposium management.

In May, the website for the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM LAUNCHES IN ALBUQUERQUE IN JULY TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE 100 UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Website Administrator — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:19:45 +0000

First New Mexico symposium opens as part of tried-and-true national program, offering students workshops, leadership growth, and support throughout the year

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop and grow the next generation of professionals will guide 100 promising high school students on a path to achieving college degrees and careers for the first time in New Mexico this summer.

The inaugural New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium will be launched at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque on July 9-12, 2008, by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional career. The symposium will serve promising students from all around the state of New Mexico and encourage and guide them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

The Hispanic College Fund has chosen New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering Science Achievement (NM MESA) Inc. as its New Mexico partner to help identify and recruit student participants and coordinate year-round educational programming. NM MESA is a non-profit organization that promotes educational enrichment for middle and high school students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups.

“New Mexico MESA is the ideal partner for this effective and innovative symposium, especially as it is tailored to the region,” said Lindsay Bernsten, director of the Hispanic College Fund Youth Symposium, Western Region. “They have tutoring resources, they encourage talented students to pursue science and math, and the Hispanic Youth Symposium complements the leadership element of what they do. They also have connections to students throughout the entire state, making this symposium unique in its reach and diversity of students.”

This year in Albuquerque, it will inspire students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.

NM MESA Director Toney Begay said he is thrilled about the collaboration between NM MESA and the Hispanic College Fund to implement the first Hispanic Youth Symposium in New Mexico.

“It just falls right in place with our mission to support high school students in their educational endeavors and also to provide enrichment activities, events, and classes in the math, science, and engineering areas,” he said. “We want to provide encouragement that students can be successful, and that they truly can major and succeed in these subjects that they expected to be difficult and hard.”

About 65 percent of NM MESA’s students are Hispanic or have ties to both Hispanic and Native American cultures, Begay said. Bernsten of the Hispanic College Fund said this is one reason the New Mexico symposium is drawing not only Hispanic students but those who culturally relate to the Hispanic culture, as well. “The Hispanic College Fund recognizes the unique privilege in having a New Mexico symposium because of the cultural overlaps in the Southwest, such as those who share a Native American heritage,” she said.

Research has shown that one of the most significant barriers to Latinos attending college is a lack of knowledge about the college preparation process, but Latino families consider education to be very important, according to Kathryn Grady, the Hispanic College Fund’s Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Western States. “The Hispanic Youth Symposium helps bridge this gap between a lack of information and the desire to pursue an education,” she said.

Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund has shown that after students participated in symposia throughout the United States - including Fresno, Calif., the San Francisco Bay Area, and Baltimore, Md. - they significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and dramatically raised their interest in pursuing internships and volunteering in their communities. The large majority reported gaining a positive role model/mentor from the program.

The University of New Mexico is serving as university partner in the New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium, providing facilities and funding and helping with administration.

Rose Cervantes, program operations of the College Enrichment and Outreach Programs at the University of New Mexico, said the institution’s Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres and the Interim Provost Dr. Vi Flores have been tremendously supportive in collaborating to bring the program to the Albuquerque campus. In addition, there is a committee with members from across the state to ensure statewide participation, Cervantes said.

“This symposium is about reaching out to our students across New Mexico by promoting leadership development and higher education. We really need to offer resources and opportunities to students who would not otherwise be exposed to them,” Cervantes said. “To be able to offer the Hispanic Youth Symposium at our university is, well, amazing in my opinion, especially as we watch the partnerships come together so well for the benefit of the students. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

To help administer the symposium, about 150 community volunteers will be engaged to assist with everything from logistics coordination to talent show judging. Approximately 20 college student resident advisors who work as volunteers also are being recruited to help with the symposium management.

Nearly one-half (44.7%) of New Mexico’s population is Hispanic, but as recently as 2006, only 12.5% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree - the lowest rate of any group in the United States.

New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium sponsors include Applied Research Associates, Inquiry Facilitators, Los Alamos National Labs, Sandia National Labs, the University of New Mexico, and Wells Fargo. The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is also supporting the program as a lead community partner.

The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:

Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Are Hispanic, Native American, or relate to the Hispanic culture
Have completed the application to participate
Are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school
Are residents of New Mexico

NM MESA will conduct follow-up sessions with all symposium alumni. Throughout the year, the non-profit will offer leadership, career, and college preparation workshops; college visits, tutoring services, educational field trips and speakers, standardized test preparation, and mentorship opportunities.

In May, the website of the New Mexico Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years HCF has provided scholarships and, since its founding, has incorporated internship and mentoring programs for students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The result is an established career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, and math.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE 200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Website Administrator — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:14:53 +0000

Symposium born of results-driven national program offering college preparation skills, leadership development, and support throughout year

WASHINGTON, DC - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop and grow the next generation of Hispanic professionals will guide 200 promising high school students in Washington, DC, in July on a path to achieving college degrees and careers.

The District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be held at Trinity Washington University on July 23-26, 2008, by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional careers. The symposium will serve promising students from Washington, DC, encouraging them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

Boasting an impressive track record in several major U.S. cities, the Hispanic Youth Symposium has grown into a four-day event and one-year follow-up program designed to increase Latino knowledge of the milestones and prerequisites needed to prepare for and attend college. Its goal is to inspire students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is sponsoring the District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium this year as part of its goal to improve the quality of life in Washington, DC.

“Part of building healthy, strong communities is creating an environment in which youth can learn and chart a path to success,” said Chet Burrell, CareFirst President and Chief Executive Officer. “CareFirst supports a wide variety of programs and organizations that make the District a better place to live. We’re proud to join the Hispanic College Fund, City and Federal governments for this worthwhile program.”

About 8 percent of the population in the District of Columbia is Hispanic, and it is growing at a rapid pace. This week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the population and the largest minority group in the United States. Yet their rate of completing higher education is relatively low.

The District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium was born of last year’s Greater Washington Hispanic Youth Symposium; thanks to its four years of considerable growth and success, it was split into three symposia in 2008, including one in DC and two in Virginia.

Trinity Washington University will host the symposium in the District of Columbia as part of its extensive focus to help meet the educational needs of families in the community. The university is supporting the symposium by providing facilities and assistance with administration.

“Trinity is delighted and proud to work in partnership with the DC Hispanic Youth Symposium to help youth here achieve their college dreams,” said Trinity President Patricia McGuire. “Trinity today educates more DC residents than any other private university in the nation, and Trinity’s success in meeting the educational needs of D.C. students is well-known. In fact, nearly 20 percent of Trinity students are Hispanic, and almost all students at Trinity face economic challenges.”

McGuire said Trinity’s experience has shown that students who receive the kind of support available through the Hispanic Youth Symposium are more likely to enroll in college and achieve academic success in their early collegiate years. “These years are the most critical moments to ensure lifelong academic and professional success,” she said.

Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund has shown that participants in the symposia significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and their interest in internships and community volunteering, as well as having gained a positive role model/mentor.

Because of the symposium’s positive impact on communities, Telemundo in Washington, DC, has been supporting the Hispanic Youth Symposium since its inception.

“We strongly support the mission of the Hispanic College Fund and believe in the importance of education,” said Telemundo Washington General Manager Wendy Thompson. “It is gratifying to see that we are able to make a difference.”

Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund, said the Hispanic College Fund depends on its community partners to help reach students and mobilize support from local donations to volunteers.

District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium sponsors include CareFirst, the Office on Latino Affairs (OLA), Children’s National Medical Center, and MasterCard. The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:

Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Are Hispanic
Have completed the application to participate
Are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school
Attend high school at Duke Ellington, Bell Multicultural, César Chávez, Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Cardozo high schools

In May, the website of the District of Columbia Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals. For 15 years, the Hispanic College Fund has provided educational, scholarship, and mentoring programs to students throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, establishing a career pipeline of talented and career-driven Hispanics who are trained in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400

FIRST HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM IN PHOENIX DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE 200 HISPANIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Website Administrator — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:21:56 +0000

Program opens in July as part of tried-and-true national program, offering educational workshops, leadership growth, and mentorship throughout the year

PHOENIX - An inspiring and expanding program to help develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals will guide 200 promising high school students on a path to achieving college degrees and careers in Phoenix for the first time this July.

The inaugural Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium will be launched at Arizona State University West on July 16-19, 2008, by the Hispanic College Fund, a nationally renowned nonprofit that provides scholarships and programs to Hispanic students eager to achieve a college education and professional careers. The symposium will serve promising students from Phoenix Union, Scottsdale Unified, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Washington, Deer Valley, Tolleson, Glendale, Dysart, and Agua Fria school districts, as well as the Catholic Diocese and charter high schools in the area. It encourages them to enter the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute, a Phoenix nonprofit college access program for Latino/a youth that builds a support network for students from college preparation to completion, is partnering with the Hispanic College Fund to help identify and recruit participants and volunteers as well as implement the subsequent year of educational programming. A key aspect of the partnership has been the success if its shared fund-raising efforts, said Lindsay Bernsten, director of the Hispanic College Fund Youth Institute, Western Region.

Community enthusiasm also has been overwhelmingly positive for the first Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium, Bernsten said. And with the local tie to AGUILA, the Phoenix symposium could become a model program for other symposia throughout the country, she said.

“Support is extraordinarily high in Phoenix, and this is a wonderful example of how we envision the symposium,” she said. “We have found this amazing organization in AGUILA, whose goals are very similar to ours. Our partnership is exactly what the Hispanic College Fund needs to help expand college knowledge and improve post-secondary attendance in the Phoenix Hispanic community.”

This year in Phoenix, it will inspire students to nurture their dreams and take pride in Hispanic culture with educational workshops, leadership opportunities, mentorship, and an emphasis on academic achievement.

Following the four-day symposium, AGUILA’s CEO/Founder Rosemary Ybarra-Hernandez will oversee the year-round programming designed to help ensure students have the tools to follow through with plans developed in July.

“I love the structure and flow of the Hispanic Youth Symposium, which become a seamless web of information and resources for the students. When I attended the Fresno Symposium last year, I witnessed a transformation as they took on a stronger sense of self, with confidence and pride. I heard testimony from the students that validated my observations, and that’s when we knew: We have to do this in Phoenix,” Ybarra-Hernandez said. “The Hispanic College Fund has an incredible gem in this symposium. It can provide so much for our students, and in only four days. To me, the symposium is the pebble in the pond; it will grow and grow. That is our intent here in Phoenix.”

Closing this divide with education and follow-up fits with the mission of Helios Education Foundation, which is providing a three-year seed grant to AGUILA to help support the Hispanic Youth Symposium. The Hispanic Youth Symposium ultimately will result in postsecondary success for the students, according to the Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna.

“One of our primary goals at Helios Education Foundation is to support programs and initiatives that help students transition successfully from middle school to high school and high school to college,” Luna said. “The student socialization and parent and community involvement that will occur as a part of the AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and the Hispanic Youth Symposium are crucial to equipping young students with the information they need to attain personal and academic excellence. This approach is clearly aligned with our mission across the transition years.”

Follow-up research by the Hispanic College Fund has indicated that after participants took part in symposia throughout the United States - including Fresno, Calif., the San Francisco Bay Area, and Baltimore, Md. - they significantly increased their knowledge of the college application process and dramatically raised their interest in pursuing internships and volunteering in their communities. The large majority reported gaining a positive role model/mentor from the program.

ASU-West is serving as university partner in the Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium, providing facilities and helping administer the symposium. In addition, at least 150 community volunteers will assist with efforts from logistics coordination to talent show judging. Approximately 20 college student resident advisors who work as volunteers also are being recruited to help with the symposium management.

“I am very pleased with the inaugural collaboration between Arizona State University and the Hispanic College Fund to bring the 2008 Hispanic Youth Symposium to our university and state,” said Dr. José E. Náñez, Sr., executive director for community outreach and professor of psychology at ASU. “We expect this summer’s symposium to serve as the solid foundation for building a rich future of ASU-HCF collaboration to enhance higher education access and success for Hispanic youth in Arizona and nationally.”

The Hispanic College Fund depends on its community partners, including the local university, to help reach students and mobilize support from donations to volunteers, said Fernando Barrueta, CEO of the Hispanic College Fund.

“We bring national sponsorships and visibility to the communities that we serve - and national opportunities for students - but we rely on the local support to make the program as successful and personal as it is,” Barrueta said. “It truly will help shape the next workforce of scientific and technical graduates in these communities.”

Almost one-third of the population in Arizona is Hispanic, but as recently as 2006, only 12.5% of Hispanics in the U.S. had a college degree - the lowest rate of any group in the United States. Javier Esquivel, 18, a Camelback High School student and AGUILA participant, said he is interested in improving that statistic. He will start his freshman year at Purdue in the fall.

“From day one, AGUILA proved to me that there were many Hispanics out there who wanted to succeed and took their education seriously. I was surrounded by a positive environment of eager Hispanic students, which was a great motivation,” Esquivel said. “Being a part of AGUILA has empowered me with great professional skills that I can use at college and in the workforce.”

Ybarra-Hernandez said the Hispanic Youth Symposium adds a crucial layer to AGUILA’s programming by offering students time to bond and gain confidence in their futures, and then to follow through on the plans set in motion. “Aside from all of the wonderful information, the opportunities, the networking, the resources at the symposium that are critical to college success, we at AGUILA believe that bonding at the beginning of the year makes the commitment stronger for these students. They will keep each other motivated.”

The symposium reaches out to student participants who meet the following criteria:

Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Are Hispanic
Have completed the application to participate
Are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school
Are residents of Maricopa County.

The Hispanic Youth Symposium alumni will join AGUILA’s students to participate in workshops throughout the year, including college and career preparation, and financial literacy. Students begin AGUILA as high school juniors, attending monthly seminars that focus on personal growth, leadership, and college preparation. As high school seniors, they continue to meet once a month to focus on college admissions and funding, cultural heritage, academic success, civic engagement, leadership, positive self-esteem and healthy relationships.

Later this month, the website of the Phoenix Hispanic Youth Symposium will be released. For more information on the national Hispanic Youth Symposium, go to www.hispanicyouth.org.

For information on how to sponsor the Hispanic Youth Symposium, call Kathryn Grady at (202) 527-0372 or email her at kgrady@hispanicfund.org.

About the Hispanic College Fund

Website: www.hispanicfund.org

# # #

Contact: Lisa Sandoval, Director of Communications, (202) 296-5400 ext. 117