LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Latino higher education, will recognize HSF Scholars, parents, a community partner, and a corporate partner for being exemplary champions of education, at HSF’s Annual Leaders in Education Awards (LEA) Dinner to be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live.
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Four-time Emmy Award-winning reporter for NBC4 Southern California and HSF Alum, Kim Baldonado, will serve as emcee. Ms. Baldonado, a long-time devoted HSF supporter, credits an HSF Scholarship with helping her earn her bachelor’s degree from U.C. Berkeley. In addition to volunteering countless hours speaking to youth about the importance of higher education, she worked closely with HSF in 2013 to help establish the first NBCUniversal/NBC4 Scholarship.
“We are delighted to honor and recognize the achievements of our inspiring HSF Scholars, parents and partners,” said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “This event serves as an opportunity to showcase HSF’s impact in the community to partners, donors and friends of HSF, and what better way to demonstrate, first-hand, than by having HSF Alum Kim Baldonado take the podium, once again, as emcee”
The ten 2016 Leaders in Education Awards’ Scholar of the Year finalists are students who have each demonstrated outstanding academic performance and exemplify what it means to be an exceptional leader. The five female finalists are Kathleen Guerra, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ashley Martinez, Brown University; Milena Nino, Johns Hopkins University; Daisy Ramos, Yale University; and Cesia Sanchez, Texas A&M University. The five male finalists are Chris Casares, Brown University; Bill De La Rosa, Bowdoin College; Omar Garcia, University of Southern California; Eric Gonzalez, Columbia University; and Alex Sowell, Stanford University.
Awards will also be given in the following categories:
LEA Parents of the Year – Angelica Prieto and Antonio Ramirez for supporting, encouraging, guiding, and inspiring their children to pursue higher education.
LEA Community Partner of the Year – Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) for their partnership with HSF, in supporting Latino students’ academic development and access to higher education.
LEA Corporate Partner of the Year – Southern California Gas Company in recognition of its long-standing philanthropic commitment and support of the Hispanic community.
Representing HSF’s Board of Directors, will be Chair of the Board, Lisa Garcia Quiroz (Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Corporate Responsibility, Time Warner Inc.); Vice Chair of the Board, Gene Camarena (President and CEO, La Raza Pizza, Inc.); Linda Bagley (Deputy General Counsel, The Walt Disney Company); Michael Bender (Chief Operating Officer, Global e-Commerce, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.); Kim Casiano (President, Kimberly Casiano & Associates); Walter Dolhare (Head of Markets Division, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC); Phillip Hyun (President, LAKANA); Jim McNamara (Founder and Chairman, Panamax Films, LLC); Angel Morales (Senior Advisor, Star Mountain Capital, LLC.); Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow (President & CEO, The Oliver Group, Inc.); Adam Rodriguez (actor/director); Anthony Salcido (Vice President and Corporate Controller, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. ); and Edgar Sandoval (Chief Operating Officer, World Vision U.S.).
LEA’s 2016 Platino Sponsors are Anheuser-Busch, McNamara Family Foundation, Toyota and Wells Fargo; Oro Sponsors: The Boston Consulting Group, Camarena Adelante Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, The College Board, Esther Rudis & Associates, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, Target, and UPS.
About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, HSF has awarded over $500 million in scholarships and provides a range of impactful programs for students, HSF Scholars, Alumni, and parents. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit HSF.net.
