Hispanic high school seniors: Apply for the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards before March 14 deadline

RESTON, Va.—March 14 is the deadline for Hispanic high school seniors to submit their application for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s (HHF) Youth Awards. Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading saving- and paying-for-college company and a sponsor of the Youth Awards, encourages Hispanic high school seniors to apply for HHF’s Youth Awards, which honor academically successful young Latino leaders at a regional and national level with educational grants ranging from $1,000 to $8,000. HHF is a nonprofit organization that works to identify, inspire, promote and prepare Latino role models through national leadership, cultural, educational and workforce programs.

“HHF shares in Sallie Mae’s commitment to facilitate access to higher education for Latinos,” said José Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “Thanks to Sallie Mae’s support, the Hispanic Heritage Youth Award Leadership Category will position young leaders as role models to their peers – providing inspiration and a vision to what can be accomplished.”

Applications may be competed online at youthawards.hispanicheritage.org on or before March 14. The Youth Awards are open to graduating high school seniors of Hispanic/Latino descent (at least one parent) who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Award categories include business, education (future teachers), engineering and mathematics, journalism, and sports. In 2007, more than $650,000 in Youth Awards were given to nearly 300 young leaders.

HHF’s Youth Awards are divided into 12 regions: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/Northeast region, Philadelphia/New Jersey, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Three recipients will be selected for each category (Gold Medallion, at $3,000; Silver, at $2,000; and Bronze, at $1,000) in each of the 12 regions. Gold Medallion recipients are also considered for HHF’s National Youth Award, which includes an additional $5,000 educational grant, a laptop computer, and an expenses-paid trip to the National Youth Awards ceremony, and to the Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington, D.C.

“We believe that everyone should have the chance to grow into a dream,” said C.E. Andrews, president, Sallie Mae. “We are pleased to partner with HHF and to create educational opportunities for Hispanic students across the country.”

Sallie Mae’s sponsorship of HHF’s Youth Awards is part of its commitment to helping students and families to follow a 1-2-3 approach to paying for college:

1. Use Free Money First: Apply for scholarships and grants, such as HHF’s Youth Awards, and use current income, savings, and Sallie Mae’s TuitionPay interest-free monthly tuition payment plan.
2. Explore Federal Loans: Federal loans generally offer low fixed interest rates and flexible repayment options.
3. Fill The Gap With Private Education Loans: Private loans are convenient and designed to help students meet the total cost of college.

For more information contact:
Beth Guerard (703) 984-5621