HISPANIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION HONORS SIX NATIONAL YOUTH AWARDEES DURING SPECIAL CEREMONY IN MIAMI

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On July 1, 2009 at Bongos Café in Miami, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and its sponsors will host the 12th Annual National Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Ceremony in honor of six high school seniors from across the United States, and one National Teacher Honoree, for their leadership in the classroom and community. The 2009 National Youth Awardees – who were selected from more than 10,000 applicants and nearly 200 regional recipients – will each receive $8,000 in educational grants, a laptop computer, and a trip to Washington, D.C. where they will be recognized onstage at the star-studded 22nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on September 30th.  The National Hispanic Heritage Youth Awardees and Teacher recipient are:     National Youth Award for Business Sponsored by National Society of Hispanic MBAs Matthew Atilano, Dundee Crown High School, Sleepy Hollow, Illinois He will be attending University of Illinois majoring in business National Youth Award for Education Sponsored by Southwest Airlines, which was honored with the Inspira Award by HHF for their corporate leadership in the Latino community Omar Cancio, Coral Gables Senior High School, Coral Gables, FL He will be attending Harvard University majoring in history of sciences and mathematics    National Youth Award for Engineering & Mathematics Sponsored by ExxonMobil Carolina White, Friendswood High School, Friendswood, TX She will be attending Richard E. Smalley Institute of Nanotechnology at Rice University majoring in nanotechnology and electrical engineering  National Youth Awards for Sports Sponsored by SUBWAY Restaurants Chloe Heckman, Centennial High School, Ellicott City, MD She will be attending Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania majoring in Marketing and Communications    National Youth Award for Journalism Sponsored by NBC Universal and Telemundo Krista Oehlke, Greenhill School, Plano, TX She will be attending Dartmouth College  majoring in English    National Youth Award for Leadership Sponsored by U.S. Army Massiel De los Santos, John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, Boston, MA She will be attending Smith College majoring in economics and Latin American Studies    National Teacher Award Sponsored by Staples Foundation for Learning Gilbert Viveros, Maywood Academy, Los Angeles, CA “As we move forward as the largest minority in America, it is important we don’t simply celebrate the achievements of our amazing young leaders, but put them in a position from which to lead,” said José Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of HHF. “The National Youth Awardees are an embodiment of our mission and absolutely shatter any negative stereotypes about young Latinos.  In addition, the National Teacher Awards recipient should be held as an inspiration for educators.  Our leadership organization and dedicated sponsors are humbled and encouraged by their impact today and tomorrow.”   Selection criteria included academic achievement, community service, category focus, and the important role that their Latino heritage played in their success. The 2009 Youth Awardees and past alumni are funneled into HHF’s mentoring program Mi Mentors, a Speakers Bureau, the Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) workforce program in an effort to create a sustainable and measurable model for positive impact on America in the classroom, workforce and community, which is HHF’s mission. The success of the Youth Awards program is predicated by the support of thousands of high schools, community organizations, and business partners; in addition to the Medallion Sponsors listed above, are our Official Sponsors and Partners - Hershey’s and Hewlett Packard; and our Foundation sponsors and partners – Amgen, AstraZeneca, Fiji Water, Hispanic College Fund, Home Building Institute and the National Association of Home Builders, Lowe’s, American Latino Museum, the National Research Center for College and University Admissions (NRCCUA), Paramount Farms, POM, Sprint Foundation, Teleflora, UPS, Voto Latino among others. The 22-year-old Hispanic Heritage Foundation identifies, inspires, promotes and prepares Latino leaders in the community, classroom and workforce. Visit www.HHFvideo.com for a brief video introduction or www.HispanicHeritage.org.         To sponsor the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards and other Hispanic Heritage Foundation programs, please call 202.861.9797.