2009 Hispanic Youth Symposium Application Now Available Online

December 17, 2008 lsandoval@hispanicfund.org

2009 Hispanic Youth Symposium Application Now Available Online

Washington, D.C.—Online applications for the 2009 Hispanic Youth Symposia have opened and can be accessed at www.hispanicyouth.org.

The Hispanic Youth Symposium is a four-day, three-night program that brings 100-200 Hispanic high school students to a college campus for workshops on accessing and affording college.

During the symposium students compete for $14,000 in scholarships, learn how to pay and apply for college, meet college admissions representatives, discover career opportunities, and find mentors who share valuable insights.

“I attended the Hispanic Youth Symposium and it changed the way I think about college,” said Wendy Flores, a 2008 Hispanic Youth Symposium attendee. “I learned that college is a way to pursue a career that makes you happy. I also learned that an education can be affordable with the help of financial aid and scholarships.”

In 2008, more than 100 students from California, attended the symposium and following it, 90 percent stated they understood the college application and financing process and 80 percent stated they were planning on attending graduate school.

The symposium serves as the summer kickoff event for the Hispanic Youth Institute, a year-round program that builds on the information learned at the symposium by providing in-depth programming throughout the following school year. 2009 marks the first year that the Hispanic College Fund is implementing “Hispanic Youth Institute” as the official title of the program.

“2009 is a very exciting year for the Hispanic Youth Symposia,” said George Cushman, vice president of programs for the Hispanic College Fund. “Local communities across the nation have demonstrated that helping talented Hispanic high school students is a priority. As a consequence, programming at the local level will only strengthen as local communities continue to engage community leaders and key stakeholders to the benefit of students.”

In 2009 the Hispanic Youth Symposia will be held in six cities: Los Angeles, CA; Fresno, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Dallas, TX; Fairfax, VA; and Baltimore, MD.

To learn details about a symposium near you, visit www.hispanicyouth.org.
About the Hispanic College Fund
Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a nonprofit organization that 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.
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
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