Washington, D.C.-
Howard University will host the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF)
Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Ceremony on April 25, 2007
on the university campus.�� Twenty-four local high school seniors
will be honored for their leadership in the classroom and community
and promoted as role models for their peers during a ceremony at the
event. ��
The 2007
Washington, D.C. Youth Awardees will each receive educational grants
in the amounts of $3,000 for Gold Medallion, $2,000 for Silver
Medallion and $1,000 for Bronze Medallion Awardees.� For the first
year, a new Bronze level Medallion will be awarded and a new
Business category will be included, sponsored by the National
Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA). The young recipients of the
Business category award will also receive free NSHMBA membership and
eligibility for additional NSHMBA scholarships, including paid
tuition for the pursuit of an MBA degree.
Orlando L. Taylor, Howard University vice provost for research and
dean of the Graduate School, stated:� "We are delighted to host the
Hispanic Heritage Award Ceremony 2007 at Howard University and to
bring a group of highly competitive Hispanic students and their
families and community leaders to the campus in hopes of encouraging
many of the students to continue their education at Howard
University. Howard is already a very multicultural university, yet
given the increasing need in the new millennium to comprehend and
appreciate diverse cultures, all Howard students can benefit greatly
from an increased Hispanic presence on our campus. The Hispanic
Heritage Foundation is a leading organization in promoting higher
education among Hispanic populations in the United States. I hope
the Award Ceremony will be the first step in a long term and
meaningful collaboration between the Foundation and Howard that will
lead to an increased and sustained growth of the Hispanic presence
at the university."
In 12
regions across the country, 288 Youth Awardees will receive more
than $600,000 in total grants after being selected from an original
pool of more than 13,000 applications. The Washington, D.C. Regional
Youth Award recipients are:
Academic Excellence,
for
extraordinary academic achievement, sponsored by Chase and
MasterCard Worldwide:
Patricia
Genevieve Moscoso
of
Rockville, MD- Richard Montgomery High School- Gold Medallion
Andrea Estefania Medina
of
Rockville, MD- Colonel Zadok Magruder High School - Silver Medallion
Yihana von Ritter
of
Gaithersburg, MD- Gaithersburg High School - Bronze Medallion
Business,
for demonstrating strong business aptitude, sponsored by the
National Society of Hispanic MBAs
Michael
Anthony Monrroy
of
Sterling, VA- Park View High School - Gold Medallion
Roberto Nicholas Obando
of
Lorton, VA - Mount Vernon High School - Silver Medallion
Guillermo Angel Olaizola
of
Bethesda, MD - Walt Whitman High School - Bronze Medallion
Community Service,
for dedication to community betterment, sponsored by Cadbury
Schweppes Americas Beverages
Elizabeth
Evelyn Quintana
of
Arlington, VA- Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School- Gold Medallion
Berta Gonzalez
of
Washington, D.C.- Bell Multicultural High School - Silver Medallion
Hedy Zabrina Romero
of
Washington, D.C.- Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School for Public
Policy- Bronze Medallion
Education,
for demonstrated desire to be among the next generation of teachers,
sponsored by Southwest Airlines
(also
the Official Airline of the HHYA):
Marlen
Penaloza
of
Chantilly, VA- Chantilly High School - Gold Medallion
Emily Bernadette Maldonado
of Falls
Church, VA- J.E.B. Stuart High School - Silver Medallion
Noe
Alexander Turcios
of
Frederick, MD- Maryland School for the Deaf - Bronze Medallion
Engineering and Mathematics,
for innovation in mathematics, engineering, or technology, sponsored
by ExxonMobil:
Gilbert
Alexander Castillo
of
Washington, D.C.- Benjamin Banneker AHS - Gold Medallion
Levi Dudte
of
Springfield, VA- West Springfield High School - Silver Medallion
Sarah Christina Vega
of
Virginia Beach, VA- Ocean Lakes High School - Bronze Medallion
Healthcare,
for the pursuit of advancements in medicine, sponsored by
GlaxoSmithKline:
Sheila
Yahyazadeh
of
Bethesda, MD- Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart - Gold
Medallion
Daniela Maria Aguilera-Titus
of
Kensington, MD- The Academy of the Holy Cross - Silver Medallion
Elizabeth Noelia Maturano
of
Kannapolis, NC- A.L. Brown High School - Bronze Medallion
Journalism,
for interest in print, broadcast, or web-based media,
sponsored by NBC Universal/Telemundo:
Arly-Lian
Costa
of
Rockville, MD- Colonel Zadok Magruder High School- Gold Medallion
Meaghan Ileana Mallari
of Silver
Spring, MD- Montgomery Blair High School- Silver Medallion
Rossana Gilselle Espinoza
of Silver
Spring, MD- John F. Kennedy High School - Bronze Medallion
Sports,
for athletic excellence, sponsored by SUBWAY� Restaurants:
Rebecca Christine Siguenza
of
Ijamsville, MD- Urbana High School - Gold Medallion
Luisa
Amanda Toruno
of
Forestville, MD- Suitland High School - Silver Medallion
Jose
Colchao
of Burke,
VA - Lake Braddock High School - Bronze Medallion
Regional committees select Awardees from the thousands of
applications submitted by graduating high school seniors of Hispanic
descent. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community
service, category focus, and an essay about the role that their
heritage has played in their success.
"We
are so proud of the Youth Awards program, which is progressing by
leaps and bounds with more sponsor involvement, celebrity
participation, and most importantly, student recognition." said Jos�
Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage
Foundation. "The Washington, D.C. Awardees are role models and
leaders who excel inside and outside of the classroom. They and
their fellow regional honorees represent the next generation of
emerging Hispanic professionals, and we are committed to providing
them with opportunity and support."
"It's
a great honor to be involved with the Hispanic Heritage Youth
Awards." said MTV VJ and Former Miss USA Susie Castillo, the new
program spokesperson.� "I am inspired in a different way by each one
of our outstanding Awardees. These young people possess so much
drive and talent, and it's a real joy to help give them the
recognition they deserve."
The
success of the Youth Awards program is predicated by the support of
thousands of high schools, community organizations, and partners
such as the Washington, D.C. Event Host Howard University; the
Official Airline of the Youth Awards Southwest Airlines;� and
Allianz Life, the Official Insurance Company of the Youth Awards.
The Foundation is pleased to welcome Sallie Mae as an Official
Student Loan Partner of the Youth Awards, along with Youth Award
Partners Staples Foundation for Learning, Excelencia in Education
and the National Research Center for College and University
Admissions (NRCCUA).�
After
the local ceremonies, the 288 Regional Youth Awards recipients will
be narrowed to one National Youth Award recipient for each of the
eight categories. Those individuals will be honored at the National
Youth Awards presentation, where each student receives an additional
$5,000 educational grant and a laptop computer. The National Youth
Awardees will be then be presented with their award onstage during a
special ceremony of the 21st Annual Hispanic Heritage in
Washington, DC on October 11, 2007.
The
Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards were created to identify and promote
the next generation of role models by celebrating their
accomplishments in the classroom and community. Now celebrating its
10th Anniversary, this national leadership program
provides 288 students with more than $600,000 in educational grants
in 12 regions. With the Youth Awards as a feeder program, the LOFT
(Latinos on Fast Track) initiative was launched in 2004 to
systematically develop sustainable relationships between top
Hispanic young professionals who have been awarded and America's
workforce. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit
organization, identifies, inspires, promotes, and prepares Latino
role models through national leadership, educational, and workforce
programs. For more information about the Hispanic Heritage
Foundation, please visit
www.HispanicHeritage.org.
To sponsor the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards and other Hispanic
Heritage Foundation programs, please call 202.861.9797.
