The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Opens Office In Dallas.

In a move reflective of the growing population in the Southwest region of the United States, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) announced the opening of its first regional office in the state of Texas.

Armando Ojeda has been selected as the Director of the Texas office, which is located at 4209 McKinney Avenue, Suite 202, Dallas. The Texas office will work with HSF’s national scholarship programs on a local and statewide level to provide support for the growing number of Latinos to understand the importance of a college education.

The office will work in collaboration with HSF’s national outreach programs, including hosting Town Hall meetings, participating in college fairs, and informing High School counselors about HSF initiatives. The regional office will also be a local contact for HSF scholars, alums in Texas, and the HSF Scholar Chapter at the University of Texas – Austin and all future Scholar Chapters that will be opened in Texas. Additionally, the office will be responsible for increasing awareness of HSF’s goals and initiatives in the Texas business community and seek support for the organization from local corporations, businesses and foundations.

“We are proud that HSF has a strong, 26-year history of providing scholarships to deserving Hispanic students in Texas,” said Sara Martinez Tucker, HSF President and CEO. “Since our inception, we have awarded 10,247 scholarships to Texas students totaling more than $13 million of financial support. This represents approximately 21 percent of all the HSF scholarships awarded to Hispanic students throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

“Reaching out and bringing our service and expertise to the Hispanic community is fulfilling HSF’s mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees,” said Sara Martinez Tucker. “We recognized, even before the recent census showed a surge in the Hispanic American population, that it was important for us to have a local presence in the state of Texas where the need for our services are great.”

“We must provide this generation of citizens, consumers, leaders and taxpayers with the educational tools to succeed and that begins with helping those who need financial assistance and support from HSF.”

HSF has immediate plans to open regional offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. HSF also plans to open three additional offices in United States cities with significant Latino populations by the end of 2002. Funding for regional offices was provided by a landmark $50 million grant by the Lilly Endowment Inc.

To contact the regional office: 4209 McKinney Avenue, Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75205-4525; 214-520-0976; Fax: 214-520-0319 or email: ao****@hs*.net .