Maria Vidal de Haymes, professor and faculty scholar, Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work (HSF Scholar 1990, 1991), will be inducted as Optimista, which honors success achieved through persistence in the face of adversity. Vidal de Haymes' family came to the United States in the early 1960s as refugees from Cuba. Quickly learning the English language, Vidal De Haymes was expected to pursue a higher education despite her family's financial challenges. While rising to the challenges of completing her bachelor of arts at the University of Nebraska, master of social work at the University of Chicago, and her doctorate at Ohio State University, Vidal de Haymes married, had two children and cared for her ailing parents. Today she is an accomplished professor, social worker, author, and committed advocate for social justice.

Cecilia Lozano, English teacher at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, (HSF Scholar 1990, 1991), is this year's selection for Altruista, awarded for personifying the spirit of gratitude, the value of giving back and the philosophy: "Of those to whom much is given, much is expected." One of four children raised by a single mother, Lozano was on her way to pursuing a college education when life intervened and brought her a family with three children. After balancing the demands of her family, part-time job and school work, she completed her college education from the University of Oklahoma and went on to obtain her master's degree in instructional leadership with an emphasis in bilingual education. She attributes her accomplishments to the sacrifices her own mother made and she works daily to cultivate a desire for learning in her students.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (HSF Scholar 1989), who represents the Triunfador category, is awarded for realizing the ultimate achievement in his profession and personifying the HSF value of "raising the bar." Born in New York to immigrant parents from Puerto Rico whose education ended in the 4th grade, Romero was the first in his family to graduate from high school, the first to attend university, (Princeton University) and the first to complete a graduate education, which he obtained from Stanford University. Romero is the sixth executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union and became the first Latino to take the helm of the nation's largest civil rights organization in September 2001.

Ambassador Antonio Garza, Jr., U.S. ambassador to Mexico (Honorary HSF Scholar), is awarded as inspirador, for personifying the hard work and sacrifice made by Latino families in pursuit f a college education. Ambassador Garza grew up in the border town of Brownsville, Texas, the son of forward-thinking Latino parents who encouraged and supported his pursuit of a higher education. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and went on to further his education at Southern Methodist University Law School. In 1994, he became the first Hispanic Republican to hold statewide office in Texas when then Gov. George W. Bush appointed him Secretary of State and Senior Advisor to the Governor. Ambassador Garza was confirmed on Nov. 12, 2002, and sworn in on Nov. 18, 2002.

Alexandra Chirinos, Harvard Law School student and George Mitchell Fellow (HSF Scholar 2000, 2001), represents this year's Brillante, for realizing extraordinary achievements early in her career, and generating even greater expectations for contributions to come. Chirinos moved from her home in Monterey, Mexico, to Corpus Christi, Texas with her mother when she was 12 years old, where she taught herself English in only six weeks. Chirinos graduated from the University of Texas at Austin having served as the first HSF Scholar Chapter coordinator, chaired the UT Bilingual Mentoring Program, and spent this past summer studying in Ireland as a George Mitchell Fellow. Also a Truman Fellow, she is now continuing her education at Harvard Law School.

The HSF Alumni Hall of Fame event, now in its third year, celebrates the incredible stories of five Hispanics who, through their accomplishments, contributions and lifetime challenges, demonstrate the power of higher education and mentorship to change a life and positively impact the world. Each honoree’s story illustrates the possibilities offered by higher education and personifies the mission and values of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.