This Month Community in Action Scholarship, Fellowship and Internship Opportunities Looking Back: Lessons Learned in School Alumni Spotlight: 2005 Alumni Hall of Fame Education and Issues in the News Scholar Chapter Network Sponsors Contact Information

Welcome to the December edition of the HSF Scholar Chapter E-Newsletter. Each month you will receive a new edition of highlights from Scholar Chapter events, information on scholarship and fellowship opportunities, articles by HSF Scholars and Scholar Chapter Coordinators, and recent news headlines. HSF Scholar Chapters are campus organizations that engage students in academic support, career and graduate school preparation, outreach, and mentorship opportunities. They are open to all students.

Community in Action

The University of Chicago (UC) Scholar Chapter Hosts "Education Matters: Affecting the Latino Community" Workshop
The UC Scholar Chapter worked with Kavita Kapadia, Director of the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), Brad Leon, Recruitment Director for Teach for America (TA), and the Center for School Improvement to host a workshop to talk and learn about current education matters affecting the Latino community nationwide. The aim of the event was to discuss ways in which people acting individually and collectively can make a difference in their communities through education awareness. Discussions orientated around education issues such as: why many public schools perform below average, bilingual education, and affirmative action. Attendees included two Chicago public school teachers. Their first-hand experience gave other participants an understanding of the challenges that many teachers face, and in turn, the challenges that many public school students encounter on a daily basis.

When asked about the workshop, UC Scholar Chapter Coordinator, Sandra Santizo commented, "During this meeting I spoke about the goal, vision, and mission of HSF and the Chapter. It illustrates why HSF and the HSF Chapters were created. Education, indeed, is the key towards a brighter future, but as long as we do not bridge the gaps that exist in our Latino communities, we are not going to be able to achieve our goals." Through events like the above, the UC Scholar Chapter members are individually and collectively bridging gaps and reaching their goals.

The University of Texas-Austin (UT) Scholar Chapter Works with the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA) to Coordinate College 101
On November 18, College 101 was hosted at the University of Texas- Austin campus. College 101 is an event that the HBSA works on to encourage the pursuit of a post-secondary education and facilitate the application process for high school students wanting to enroll in college. In the past, the UT Scholar Chapter has contributed to the event in the form of volunteerism. However, this year, the Chapter designed and organized all of the College 101 workshops.

Leading up to the event, UT Scholar Chapter Coordinator, Alma Nidia Garza, attended weekly meetings with leaders from HBSA and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to divide and designate event duties. HBSA communicated with high school counselors and helped organize transportation logistics for high school participants. Scholar Chapter members secured financial aid and college admissions counselors to deliver presentations. Members also arranged residence hall tours, in order for the high school students to get a glimpse of how college students live on-campus. High school students received copies of the HSF Destination University, a book that outlines the road to college. Overall, the event was an immense success serving 100 high school students through the heart felt effort of 25 volunteers.

	Scholarship, Fellowship and Internship Opportunities
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships and Grants As one of the largest sources of funding in the world exclusively for graduate women, the AAUW supports aspiring scholars, professionals, and activists. Some fellowships include: Community Action Grants provide seed money to individual women, AAUW branches and AAUW state organizations, as well as local community-based nonprofit organizations for innovative programs or nondegree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Applicants must be U.S citizens or permanent residents. (Deadline: January 15, 2006) Amount: One-year grants ($2,000- $7,000 over one year); Two-year grants ($5,000- $10,000 over two years) Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who intend to pursue a full-time course of study (during the fellowship year) in designated degree programs where women's participation traditionally has been low. (Deadline: January 10, 2006 for Master's and First Professional Awards) Amount: $20,000 (Engineering); $5,000- $12,000 (Master's and First Professional Degrees) Eligibility: Check website for each programs specific eligibility requirements. Yes We Can Interships Yes We Can is a training and job placement program, organized by Senator Barack Obama's Hopefund PAC, with a goal of expanding opportunities for African Americans and Latinos in political campaigns around the country. This program is designed to recruit and train young people who have the desire to work on campaigns but have limited political experience. Senator Obama's priority is to identify and create a class of talented campaign staffers who gradually build experience in all areas of a campaign, and who will continue to work in politics over an extended period of time. Eligibility: Students who are interested in political campaigns and will be completed with his or her academic obligations by January of 2006, may be eligible to participate in this program. Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs The Coro Fellows Program is the most long-standing and well known of the Coro programs. It is an intensive nine-month, full-time, graduate-level program. Each year, after a rigorous national selection process, sixty- four Coro Fellows are chosen from across the country to serve as Coro Fellows at one of the following Coro Centers: Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Francisco. Coro Fellows are engaged full-time in individually tailored field assignments in a business, labor union, a government agency, a non-profit agency, and on a political election campaign. In addition, Fellows participate in a group and individual project for local organizations.(Deadline: January 6, 2006) Eligibility: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required and post-graduate academic and/or work experience are desirable. Most candidates have been active in civic or campus activities. Evidence of leadership potential and concern for the well being of communities are also criteria for selection. Fellows come from all academic disciplines, careers and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship Program The Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to increase the number of minorities and women in the fields of science, math, engineering and technology. A Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity to help outstanding minorities and women enhance their knowledge and to pursue a PH.D. degree in science and engineering. (Deadline: January 13, 2006) Amount: Full tuition; an annual stipend of $17,000; $250 book allotment per semester and 1,000 per year for travel to conferences; renewable on a yearly basis for up to four years of graduate study. Eligibility: Fellowships are awarded to women and members of a minority group currently underrepresented in the sciences who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The program is primarily directed to graduating college seniors, but applications from first-year graduate students will be considered. Candidates are selected on the basis of scholastic attainment in their fields of specialization, and other evidence of their ability and potential as research scientists. Students must be pursuing full-time doctorial studies in select disciplines (see website for full list). Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program The Scholars Program brings talented Latino, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native college seniors and recent graduates to Washington, DC, where they work in congressional offices and learn about health policy. Through the nine-week program (May 24 - July 29, 2005), Scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure and health policy issues, while further developing their critical thinking and leadership skills. In addition to an internship in a congressional office, Scholars participate in seminars and site visits to augment their knowledge of health care issues, and write and present a health policy research memo. The program is based at Howard University. (Deadline: January 9, 2006) Amount: Scholars receive approximately $5,000 in support, which includes: A stipend of $1,500 upon completion of the program; A daily expense allowance for meals and local transportation; Transportation/airfare to and from Washington, D.C.; and Lodging at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Eligibility: Candidates must be U.S. citizens who are members of a racial/ethnic minority group and will be seniors or recent graduates of an accredited U.S. college or university in the fall of 2006. Currently enrolled law, medical, and graduate students are not eligible to apply. Candidates are selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential and interest in health policy. Breakthrough Collaborative Summer Internships Breakthrough Collaborative is a national non-profit that increases educational opportunity for high-potential, low-income middle school students and inspires outstanding college and high school students to pursue careers in education. Consistently featured as a Top Ten Internship by the Princeton Review, Breakthrough's innovative Students Teaching Students model partners middle-school students with college and high school students who serve as teachers, role models and mentors, providing real-life examples that it's 'cool to be smart'. Drawn from the public school system, 89% of Breakthrough's students are students of color and 65% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs. English is a second language for 27% of the students, and most will be the first in their family to attend college. Students commit to a minimum of two years of intensive six-week summer sessions and after-school programs in which they take classes in core academic subjects, and participate in elective courses ranging from astronomy to African-American literature. A tuition- free program, Breakthrough's classes are rigorous and small (a maximum 7:1 student to teacher ratio) and full participation is expected of every student. Breakthrough was founded in San Francisco in 1978 as Summerbridge and serves more than 2,000 middle school students and employs 700 college and high school students in 25 locations across the U.S. (Deadline: March 6, 2006) INROADS INROADS is an organization that seeks to increase business career opportunities and knowledge for the best and brightest young people of color, while giving corporations the opportunity to develop diverse managerial talent. In response to the growing demand from business for talented, qualified people of color, INROADS was established to identify interested, capable high school students of color entering college or university to pursue business, engineering, and technical careers. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) List of Scholarships for ALL Students (Regardless of Immigration Status) This list of scholarships covers a variety of interest areas and student populations. They do not require a social security number, legal residency, or citizenship in order to apply. As a general rule, if an application asks for your social security number and you do not have one yet, leave that space blank but still fill out and turn in the application. Contact each scholarship provider for applications and details about updated requirements and deadlines. (Note: You must have Acrobat Reader on your computer to download the list) ASPIRA's Searchable Database Check out the the left side menu on this website to access this search engine for a wealth of information about scholarships, fellowships, internships and financial aid at no cost to the user. Scholarships for Hispanics also maintains an online database here. Don't forget to stay up-to-date on all upcoming HSF Scholarships by visiting the HSF website...here.

	Looking Back: Lessons Learned in School
It seems like only yesterday my parents were dropping me off at college to start school. I had never been away from home for any extended period of time, and only then it was with a family member accompanying me. And yet, I had decided to go to a school nearly 1600 miles away from home. My parents were not exactly sure whether I was prepared for the experience and to be quite honest, neither was I. We had always been a close-knit family, and the prospects of months of separation rested uneasily for both my parents and me. However, I dared not show any reservation and put on a face of confidence, because I knew the opportunity for a good college education had presented itself. I remember freshman year was one of the toughest I had to face. I struggled to adjust to the new setting. Thankfully, I did not have any horror-story roommates to deal with. In fact, my freshman year roommates became some of my most trusted friends. However, I did feel out of place. I began courses at levels which I was not prepared for in public high school. Soon enough, I started to struggle. This was especially tough to handle considering I went through high school with little or no academic stress. But worse of all, I began to question whether or not I deserved to be at Yale. The university did not feel like home to me. I remember going home Winter Break of freshman year and seriously considering not returning to school. In my mind, I practiced how I would tell my parents that I did not want to return. When I got home, I began to reflect on what I was planning to do. My parents told me how proud they were of the fact that I was going to the university, and that my extended family was excited about my success. I began to realize that quitting was not an option. I was, it turned out, an example for other friends and family. I realized I could not let them down, and that I would do everything I could to succeed. College was an excellent opportunity, and I was not about to let it pass me by. When I returned to school, I realized that I was missing the kind of academic support that was available on campus. Tutors and professor office hours were resources I had not used. People were more than willing to help me, and I began to see classmates that I thought were doing fine asking for help. Perhaps I had been too proud to humble myself and ask for help, but that had to change. I also met good friends that had similar backgrounds and could relate to my cultural experience. We could talk about common experiences in school and family. I felt comfortable with them joking in Spanish and talking about how the cafeteria food at school lacked a tortilla or two. With them, the university began to feel like home and my academics reflected this. Looking back now, I realize that freshman year was a test of character-- testing whether or not I would cower in the face of adversity. I am glad that I came out on the right side, but realize that things could have just as easily gone the opposite way. Do not ever question whether you deserve to be at your college. You most definitely do. You are capable of excelling at your university. It is just a matter of seeking out the resources for academic support on campus. The HSF Scholar Chapter provided me the opportunity to meet my network of academic support on campus, but if you cannot find one, start your own college group. Trust me, there are plenty of people in your situation, and they too need someone to tell them, "Si se puede." Jorge Solis is a Gates Millennium Scholar and a senior Economics and History major. He is currently in his second year as the HSF Scholar Chapter Coordinator at Yale.

	Alumni Spotlight: 2005 Alumni Hall of Fame
A migrant farm worker, a Harvard MBA, an engineer, a philanthropist, an entrepreneur-these are some of the words that describe Martín Curiel, HSF's Altruista (the humanitarian), awarded for personifying the spirit of gratitude and the value of giving back to the community. He grew up among some of the most impoverished people in the U.S., migrant farm workers. This environment taught him the values of family, hard work, and per- severance. Martín began his working career at the age of five along with his two sisters and continued in the fields for 19 more years until receiving his bachelor's degree in engineering before completing receiving his MBA from Harvard University. Today, Martín Curiel is a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting and founder of the nonprofit, Rising Farmworker Dream Fund.

	Education and Issues in the News
Policies on Illegal Immigrants at Odds (LA Times, 11/27/05) "Contradictions breed anger and confusion as U.S., state and local governments enact varying laws." Texas is falling short of closing higher education gaps, but Houston-area schools are doing their part (Houston Chronicle, 12/1/05) "At 6 percent of the total Texas population, proportionately there are actually fewer Texans enrolled in college than there were a decade ago. By 2015, that percentage could drop to a dismal 5 percent of the projected number of state residents, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board." Spanish At School Translates to Suspension (washingtonpost.com, 12/9/05) "KANSAS CITY, Kan., Dec. 8 -- Most of the time, 16- year-old Zach Rubio converses in clear, unaccented American teen-speak, a form of English in which the three most common words are "like," "whatever" and "totally." But Zach is also fluent in his dad's native language, Spanish -- and that's what got him suspended from school." New York University bans Coke products (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/9/05) "New York University is the latest school to ban Coca- Cola products from campus, citing concerns about the company's labor practices in Colombia."

	Scholar Chapter Network Sponsors
Support for the HSF Scholar Chapter Network is made possible by a generous grant from The Goldman Sachs Foundation. Additional network support is also provided by Wells Fargo Bank and The Lumina Foundation for Education.

	Contact Information
Student Coordinators California State University, Bakersfield lgarcia15@runner.csub.edu California State University, Fresno EricaQ@comcast.net California State University, Fullerton mujerfuerte06@yahoo.com Columbia University pag2014@columbia.edu Harvard University yanez@fas.harvard.edu New York University daniel.nieves@nyu.edu Stanford University sherlyc@stanford.edu Texas A&M University andrewcarrillo@neo.tamu.edu University of Arizona melo@u.arizona.edu University of California, Berkeley nmcuriel@uclink.berkeley.edu University of California, Los Angeles vmlopez@ucla.edu University of California, San Diego University of Chicago ssantizo@uchicago.edu University of Florida cma02@ufl.edu University of Miami cecwalker@hotmail.com University of New Mexico rjrvelazquez@juno.com University of Southern California bsilva@usc.edu University of Texas, Austin alma-nidia@mail.utexas.edu University of Washington oscarr@u.washington.edu Yale University jorge.solis@yale.edu The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. Its mission is to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees to 18 percent by 2010. The HSF Scholar Chapter Network is committed to helping students achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to all the communities they touch. HSF Scholar Chapters promote academic success and professional preparation among Latinos by engaging students in academic, leadership, and professional opportunities. Scholar Chapters are open to all students on campus and are geared toward the needs of Latino/a students. Learn More About Community & Scholar Relations at HSF »

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