Allstate & NCLR Scholarships For Hispanic Youth Leaders Making A Difference In Their Communities.

Allstate Insurance and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) awarded ten Hispanic youth leaders each with a Líderes de Hoy $5,000 academic scholarship. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Marco Davis, Director of Leadership for the Center of Emerging Latino Leadership of the National Council of La Raza and Giovanni Ramírez from Allstate, among others recognized the winners for their exceptional achievements and commitment to their community.

“Allstate, together with the National Council of La Raza, is proud to sponsor this program to provide scholarships to young Hispanic leaders” said Giovanni Ramírez, Allstate representative. “We recognize that in order to build stronger Hispanic communities we must prepare our Hispanic youth to be responsible and active citizens. Through the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest Allstate and NCLR are helping to provide Latino youth with access to the resources and training needed to become successful leaders”

The winners of the 2005 Líderes de Hoy national essay contest are Nelson Araujo from Las Vegas, NV; Erik Casynn from Longmont, CO; Christian Contreras from Elmsford, NY; Janet Del Real from Modesto, CA; Arthur Hernandez from Paradise, TX; Esteban Hufstedler from Santa Ana, CA; Shannon Marrero from Gainesville, FL; Steven Parra from Los Angeles, CA; Derek Rodrígues from Albany, OR; and Magdalena Rodríguez from Watsonville, CA.

“With the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest we are responding to a critical civil need for more Hispanic leaders by engaging young Hispanics in leadership, community and civic action” affirmed Marco Davis. “The goal of the Center is to build a national Líderes network that supports and strengthens programs and organizations that develop Hispanic youth, like the Líderes de Hoy national essay contest, and empowers more Hispanic youth to become involved in their communities.”

Applicants to the national essay contest were asked to answer the question “As a young leader, how have you been a catalyst for positive change and contributed to inspiring your community?” The essays were judged on the basis of the entrant’s commitment to his or her community, exemplary leadership and promise to continued involvement in the community and civic affairs by a panel of high-profile leaders in the Hispanic community. The ten winners we selected from over 290 entrants from across the United States.