Hispanic Scholarship Fund Recognizes Top Latino Scholars At Annual Leaders In Education Awards Luncheon

LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation's largest not-for-profit organization supporting Latino higher education, will recognize HSF Scholars, parents, a community partner, and a corporate partner for being exemplary champions of education, at the Leaders in Education Awards (LEA) Luncheon to be held April 7, 2015 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live.

Four-time Emmy Award-winning reporter for NBC4 Southern California and HSF Alum, Kim Baldonado, will serve as emcee.

"This event is a great opportunity to recognize and reward the exceptional accomplishments of HSF Scholars, parents and partners," says Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  "In addition to their outstanding efforts on behalf of higher education, the honorees are shining examples for others to follow."

The ten 2015 Leaders in Education Awards' Scholar of the Year finalists are students who have each demonstrated outstanding academic performance and exemplify what it means to be an exceptional leader. The five female finalists are Natalie Aguirre, Pepperdine University, Cindy Barrientos, UC San Diego, Trista Benitez, USC, Sarah Contreras-Ortiz, UC Riverside and Andrea Maciel, UCLA. The five male finalists are Salvador Badillo-Rios, UC Irvine, Haldo Cabrera, USC, Ismael Munoz, UC San Diego, Eugenio Rivera, USC, and Chris Soriano, UCLA.

Awards will also be given in the following categories:

LEA Parents of the Year - Patricia and Juan Garcia for supporting, encouraging, guiding, and inspiring their children to pursue higher education.

LEA Community Partner of the Year – National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund for their partnership with HSF, in supporting Latino students' academic development and access to higher education.

LEA Corporate Partner of the Year - The Walt Disney Company in recognition of its long-standing philanthropic commitment and support of the Hispanic community.

Representing HSF's Board of Directors, will be Chairman of the Board, James McNamara, Founder and Chairman, Panamax Films, LLC; Treasurer of the Board and Chair of Endowment, Anthony Salcido, Vice President, North American Financial Integration, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; and Tim Hanlon, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo Philanthropy Group.

LEA's 2015 corporate sponsors are Diamante Sponsor Wells Fargo; Platino Sponsors Anheuser-Busch, McNamara Family Foundation, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; The College Board, and Toyota; and Oro Sponsors American Honda Motor Company and Esther Rudis & Associates, Inc.

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund  Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible. As the nation's largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, the Fund has awarded over $470 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, HSF Scholars, Alumni, and parents.  For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit: HSF.net.

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SOURCE Hispanic Scholarship Fund