Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation is finalizing its annual search for America’s top Hispanic youth with a greatly expanded Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards program. More than $400,000 will be awarded to top Hispanic students in the areas of Leadership/Community Service, Sports, Arts, Literature/Journalism, Academic Excellence, Science and Technology, and, this year’s newest category, Mathematics, sponsored by Exxon Mobil.

The deadline to submit applications is February 9, 2001.Applications are available through the sponsoring organizations, high school guidance counselors, and through the Foundation’s Web site at www.HispanicAwards.org.

In March, seven winners will be selected in each participating city, one in each of the award categories. The 84 Regional Winners will each receive a $2,000 educational grant and a new personal computer. The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation will also make a $1,000 donation to the community service organization chosen by each Regional Winner. In June, seven National Winners will be selected from the pool of 84 Regional Winners. The National Winners of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards 2001 will be recognized at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during the annual Hispanic Heritage Awards Gala this September. The ceremony is widely recognized as the highlight of Hispanic Heritage Month and will be broadcast on NBC television stations in the fall of 2001.

The awards are open to all college-bound, Hispanic seniors currently living in the following metropolitan and surrounding areas: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose, and Washington, D.C.

Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards recipients are selected for their accomplishments in their chosen discipline and their potential for leadership as well as for their commitment to community service. Winners must demonstrate strength and quality of character and show that their Hispanic heritage plays a significant role in their lives.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation was established 15 years ago to promote Hispanic excellence, provide a greater understanding of the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States, and recognize role models that inspire our youth. The Youth Awards expand on this mission by providing a prestigious forum to celebrate the accomplishments of Hispanic Youth in our nation, thereby highlighting peer role models and recognizing the potential for all young Americans.

For more information at Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation, Washington D.C. Georgina Salguero, 202/861-9797 ext. 17