April 15, 2019, LOS ANGELES, CA — The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting Latino higher education, will recognize the achievements of top HSF Scholars, parents of Scholars, an outstanding community partner, and an exceptional educational partner, for their contributions to advancing higher education for the Latino community, at HSF’s Annual Leaders in Education Awards (LEA) Gala. The event will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live.

Kim Baldonado, a six-time Emmy Award-winning reporter for NBC4 Southern California, and Mekahlo Medina, co-anchor of NBC4 weekend morning news program “Today in LA,” will emcee the evening’s program. The emcees are both HSF Alumni and long-time supporters of HSF, having received HSF scholarships while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees—Ms. Baldonado, at the University of California, Berkeley, and Mr. Medina, at New Mexico State University.

“We are proud to have this opportunity to celebrate our honorees for their outstanding achievements,” said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “Each is having an extraordinary impact on advancing the cause of Hispanic higher education, and each exemplifies HSF’s mission and vision. By recognizing their contributions, we hope to inspire others.”

A highlight of the program will be the announcement of the male and female HSF Scholars of the Year. The ten 2019 Leaders in Education Awards’ Scholar of the Year finalists are students in the current HSF Scholar class, who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and exemplary leadership. The five female finalists are Viviana Arrunategui Norvick, Brown University; Anna Maria Cossio, Washington University in St. Louis; Danica Gutierrez, Harvard University; Paulina Ledezma, University of Arkansas; and Ana Darielle Nuñez, Vanderbilt University. The five male finalists are Marcos Antonio De La Garza, Rice University; Alejandro Diaz, Emory University; Manuel Diaz, New York University; Ronaldo Moscoso, University of Maryland; and David Zuluaga, Princeton University.

The HSF Scholars and Alumni who have earned this distinction in the past, and who will be joining us during this year’s gala, are Natalie Sahagun and Daniel Parra, 2018 HSF Scholars of the Year; Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez and Ramiro Mendoza, 2017 HSF Scholars of the Year; and Kathleen Guerra, 2016 HSF Scholar of the Year.

Awards will also be given in the following categories:

LEA Parents of the Year – Ana and Alfonso Hernandez, for supporting, encouraging, guiding, and inspiring their three daughters to pursue higher education.

LEA Community Partner of the Year –The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, for its dedication to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Along with HSF, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a founding partner of the Youth Leadership Consortium (YLC). Led by HSF, YLC is a partnership of organizations that share the goal of ensuring that the families collectively served by institutions of higher education are representative of the diversity of the US population.

LEA Educational Partner of the Year – University of Southern California (USC), in recognition of its work to advance higher education for the Latino community. USC hosted HSF’s Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) on its campus in 2017, and has provided in-kind support for both the 2018 and upcoming 2019 YLI programs. YLI is a four-day, overnight, college empowerment conference for Latino high school rising seniors, selected through a competitive application process. It is designed to give these young leaders the practical tools they need to successfully apply to top universities, have full access to scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and set a course for academic and career success.

Representing HSF’s Board of Directors, will be Chair of the Board, Gene Camarena, President and CEO, La Raza Pizza, Inc.; Daniel Acosta, Jr., Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group; Linda Bagley, Deputy General Counsel, The Walt Disney Company; Michael Bender, President & CEO, EyeMart Express LCC; Kimberly Casiano, President, Kimberly Casiano & Associates; Walter Dolhare, Managing Director & Co-President, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC; Angel Morales, Founder & CEO, Morales Capital; Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow, President & CEO, The Oliver Group, Inc.; Anthony Salcido, Vice President, Corporate Controller, Toyota Motor North America; María Elena Salinas, Former Co-Anchor, Noticiero Univision; and Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

LEA’s 2019 Platino Sponsors are: Wells Fargo, The Boston Consulting Group, and The College Board. Oro Sponsors: Camarena Adelante Foundation; Esther Rudis & Associates; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP; and McNamara Family Foundation. Bronce Sponsor: Meruelo Group.

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) empowers Latino students and their parents with knowledge and resources needed to successfully complete a higher education, and provides scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible. As the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, HSF has awarded over $588 million in scholarships, to date. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit HSF.net.