Doctor Deborah German, the Dean of the College of Medicine, accepted the donation. She was joined by Katherine Ferstadt Vargas, the first recipient of the UCF College of Medicine Scholarship.

Featured on the photo (R – L):  Katherine Ferstadt Vargas, Lizette Valarino, Jaime Piñero, Doctor Deborah German, and Julio Suárez.

Established in 2006, the UCF College of Medicine is one of the first U.S. medical schools in decades to be built from the ground up. As a new medical school, UCF’s program epitomizes innovation, high-tech learning tools and a pioneering spirit to educate young doctors and scientists in a new and better way for the 21st century. The college is an integral part of the growing medical city at Lake Nona. The UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona now includes the medical school’s new 170,000-square-foot medical education facility, featuring the latest in lab and classroom technology, as well as its new 198,000-square-foot Burnett Biomedical Sciences building.

The Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando received a donation of $5,300 from Lourdes Cifuentes and Fifth Third Bank on Friday, December 2, 2011 as a result of a radio contest sponsored by the bank.

Fifth Third Bank honored the accomplishments of Latinos during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 thru October 15, 2011, by partnering with Orlando’s WNUE-FM (98.1) radio station to highlight Hispanic history makers during that time period.  In addition, Fifth Third Bank sponsored a promotion in which listeners called in for a chance to win a prize. The daily winners were automatically entered in a Fifth Third Bank-sponsored, on-air drawing at month’s end for $1,000 and an additional $5,300 to go to a local charity of the winner’s choosing.

The winner of the drawing was Lourdes Cifuentes who chose the HHSFMO as her charity of choice.  “Education is important to me,” said Lourdes, who said she and her sister did some research on organizations before deciding on HHSFMO. “I’m happy to help a Latino student complete his or her education,” she commented.

“With this donation, Lourdes has made a difference in the life of one more student in Central Florida,” commented Lizette Valarino, Executive Director of HHSFMO.  “It may not seem like much but it represents one more semester and sometimes, one full-year of school for a student. It means the world to them!”

Joyce Odongo, Vice President of Community Affairs at Fifth Third Bank joined Lourdes to present the check to the HHSFMO at the downtown office of Fifth Third Bank.

L-R:  Joyce Odongo, Lizette Valarino, and Lourdes Cifuentes

The Bahama Breeze team recently presented the check to the HHSFMO during a lunch meeting at the Bahama Breeze restaurant on International Drive. 

Special thanks to the Central Florida-based Bahama Breeze General Managers for their support:

• Craig Barhost – Bahama Breeze on Altamonte Springs
• Eric Coleman – Bahama Breeze on International Drive
• Robyn Saul – Bahama Breeze on Lake Buena Vista

L – R:  Karen Vergara (2009 & 2011 Scholar), Jaime Pinero, Lizette Valarino, Marisol Romany, Robyn Saul, Julio Suárez, and Eric Coleman.

L – R:  Julio Suárez, Jaime Pinero, Eric Coleman, Robyn Saul, Lizette Valarino, and Karen Vergara (2009 & 2011 Scholar)

On Saturday, October 22, the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando celebrated its 12th Annual Gowns & Guayaberas dinner to honor its 2011 scholars.  Congratulations to all scholarship recipients:

• Alina Alvarez – Advertising / Public Relations
• Marisol Andrade – Law
• Andrés Aranguibel - Digital Media
• Jessica Barreto - Broadcast Journalism
• Richard Carrillo - Mechanical Engineering
• Johanan Colón - Fine Arts
• Vanessa Cotto - Law
• Valezka Gil - Journalism
• Ashley Jaramillo - Interpersonal and Organizational Communications
• Estefanía Martinez - Marketing
• Doris Meléndez - Psychology
• Marilyn Mosquera - Molecular Biology and Microbiology
• Marcos Oliva - Film and Emerging Media
• Ruben Pabon Padin - Biology
• José Paz y Puente - Mechanical Engineering
• Esperanza Pérez - Business
• Edwin Pérez-Lange - Computer Engineering
• Danny Rivera - Criminal Justice
• Sebastian Sotelo - Mechanical Engineering
• Marizayda Torres - Psychology
• Karen Vergara - Accounting

The evening featured Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., delivered an inspirational message, including details about his personal and professional life.  The Brigadier General also challenged the students to pursue their career aspirations and to give back to their community by volunteering as mentors.

The audience also heard from past scholarship recipients Diana Labady and Omar Carmona Sánchez.  They both shared details about how the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando assisted with their academic expenses and motivated them to pursue their professional goals.

The Annual Gowns & Guayaberas dinner serves as the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund’s primary fundraiser, allowing the organization to continue to support the college going dreams of talented Hispanic students in Central Florida.  Thank you to all sponsors for their continued support.

On Wednesday, September 21^st, Wells Fargo celebrated Tu Música Tu Rítmo, a benefit concert in support of the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando.

The concert featured Tito Nieves – El Pavarroti de la Salsa.  This was an outstanding show, which commemorated Wells Fargo’s entry into the Central Florida market.

The Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando would like to thank Wells Fargo, Tito Nieves, and all who attended the concert.

The Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando (HHSFMO), a 501(C)(3) organization, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2011 Hispanic Heritage Scholarship. The recipients will be honored during the 12th Annual “Gowns and Guayaberas” gala on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

This year, the HHSFMO will once again provide over $100,000 in scholarships. The funds will be distributed to 18 Central Florida students who will each receive a $5,000 scholarship with an additional $10,000 provided to the University of Central Florida’s School of Medicine scholarship program—the final portion of HHSFMO’s four-year commitment totaling $40,000. A volunteer committee selected students based on their grade point average, an essay and financial need.

The 2011 HHSFMO scholarship recipients are:

• Alina Alvarez
• Andrés Aranguibel
• Jessica Barreto
• Richard Carrillo
• Ashley Jaramillo
• Estefanía Martinez
• Marilyn Mosquera
• Marcos Oliva
• Ruben Pabon Padin
• José Paz y Puente
• Danny Rivera
• Sebastian Sotelo
• Marizayda Torres
• Karen Vergara
• Johanan Colón
• Doris Meléndez
• Esperanza Pérez
• Edwin Pérez-Lange.

Through a partnership with the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County, HHSFMO will also provide additional scholarships to two (2) law students at F.A.M.U. and Barry School of Law. These students will be announced at a later date.

The Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando has become the largest non-profit organization in Central Florida dedicated to providing scholarships for Hispanic students pursuing a college or university degree. To date, the fund has awarded more than $630,000 to help 173 exceptional students attending local colleges and universities.

The HHSFMO “Gowns and Guayaberas” gala is the organization’s primary fundraising venue for the scholarship program.

“This scholarship program is completely community driven – a community that recognizes the social and economic value of a well-educated workforce,” said Lizette Valarino, Executive Director for HHSFMO. “It is through the generosity of our business and community partners and sponsors, that this award is possible. And it is always exciting to be able to recognize and reward the hard work of these outstanding students with such brilliant potential!”

“The HHSFMO scholarship brings these students closer to their dream of attaining a college degree,” said Jaime Piñero, Board Chairman for HHSFMO. “It is with great pride that we recognize these 18 students for their effort, academic achievement and potential.”

For more information about the scholarship program, the “Gowns and Guayaberas” event, becoming a sponsor, or to make a donation, please visit http://hispanicheritagescholarshipfund.org/, or contact Lizette Valarino at hhsfmo@aol.com.

Thank you to our 2011 Sponsors!

Congratulations to Christina Restrepo, a HHSF scholarship recipient from 2009 who was accepted as a Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Intern at the Library of Congress this Fall.  We are very proud of you, Christina!

The Lumina Foundation for Education is a private, independent foundation established in Indianapolis in August 2000.  Lumina is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college.  It is the nation’s largest foundation dedicated exclusively to increasing students’ access to and success in postsecondary education.  Lumina’s goal is to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025.

The Spring 2011 issue of the LUMINA Foundation’s FOCUS Magazine focuses on Latino student success.  WHY?

Because the nation’s Latino population has grown by 43 percent over the last decade.  And in order to reach Lumina’s goal of 60 percent of Americans with high-quality postsecondary degrees and credentials by 2025 requires making college attainment a reality for many more Latinos.  Click here to read the issue.

Congratulations to Christian Pinto Rey, HHSFMO scholar 2006 & 2007 who graduated on May 15th from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.  Chris will be attending a NASA training camp in California this summer!

This photo features Chris at his graduation ceremony and accompanied by Lizette Valarino, founder and executive director of the HHSFMO.

Chris credits the scholarships that he received from the HHSFMO for motivating him to purse his academic dreams.  Watch his video testimonials here.

The product of collaboration among 60 national partners, the Roadmap for Ensuring America’s Future (March 2011) is a tool for stimulating and facilitating dialogue in communities across the nation about action needed to increase degree attainment generally, and Latino degree attainment specifically.

Latino students are more likely to be non-traditional students, so state and institutional initiatives that focus on those students can make a big difference:

• Colleges and universities should focus on policies that increase retention for working students in good standing, increase early college high schools and dual enrollment programs, and guarantee need-based aid for qualified students.
• Community leaders can do more to inform parents and family members about the pathway to college and to engage their community in supporting college access and degree attainment.
• Historically, the federal government has focused on college access and opportunity through financial aid (Pell grants and Stafford Loans) and support programs (e.g., GEAR Up and TRIO). However, for America to lead the world in college degrees, the federal government must also focus on college retention and degree attainment.

To read the full report, please visit http://www.edexcelencia.org/initiatives/EAF/Roadmap