More Latinos than ever before are finishing high school—73 percent of be exact. That’s what the latest study by the Pew Hispanic Center found in 2010, and it’s the highest it has been since 1972.
And with this increase in college-bound Latinos comes a greater demand for resources to guide them through the enrollment process, as well as a need for scholarship opportunities. Thankfully, an increasing number of websites and programs are being developed to meet the needs of these Latino families.
United States University
Located in Southern California, US University’s mission is to provide quality and affordable higher education for under-served groups with a special emphasis on Hispanic and immigrant communities. They have adopted the “La Familia” approach, which focuses on a nurturing environment that supports and prepares students to be independent lifelong learners and shapers of the future.
Most recently, the University launched a $2.4 million scholarship program, and Rudolph I. Estrada, the Board Chairman, has arranged for $810,000 (up to 200 scholarships) to be set aside for Hispanic students. The scholarships are for online undergraduate and graduate programs, and Latino students anywhere in the country are eligible to apply. Estrada says that he made the commitment to arrange these online scholarships because he feels that it is essential for Latinos to get an education in order to advance their careers in today’s struggling economy.
Ronald McDonald House Charities®/HACER® Scholarship
Each year, the RMHC®/HACER® Scholarship grants four scholarships worth up to $100,000. The award is payable to each winner over four consecutive years of undergraduate education (up to $25,000 per year). Since 1985, more than $22 million has been awarded through the RMHC®/HACER® scholarship program. Since its inception, approximately 15,373 students have received scholarships, and Hispanic students received more than $998,000 in scholarships in 2010 alone.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® is a non-profit organization that works in cooperation with the McDonald’s corporation to make this scholarship available. Since 2006, RMHC has provided nearly $2.6 million in matching grants for programs that directly benefit Hispanic children and families.
You can learn more about the RMHC®/HACER® scholarship at MeEncanta.com. The deadline for the 2011/2012 RMHC Scholarship program year is coming up fast! Applications must be submitted by January 27, 2012.
Univision’s Es el momento Initiative
Last year, Univision launched its multi-platform education initiative, Es el momento. In October, they organized their first-ever national education week ¡Edúcate, Es el momento! and during this week they announced their new scholarship program. Becas Univision awards $300,000 in funding to Latino students across the nation.
In addition, Univision has also added a very informative education section to their Spanish website Vida y Familia. This section allows parents to look up education-related subjects for K-12. But it also provides tools and resources for Latino families with college-bound children. For example, families can find an online calculator to help them estimate college expenses, as well as a list of college resources available by state.
New Futuro
Created in 2010, New Futuro’s goal is to provide families with a single online resource to help guide them through the enrollment process and beyond. Members receive access to free bilingual information and tools to help their college-bound students. They can use the New Futuro College Plan to create a 10-step “roadmap” to get into college, or win scholarships at their free workshops. From financial aid to career advice, New Futuro is there to help Latino students and their families navigate their way to a degree. This site offers valuable articles and videos to help motivate and inform its viewers. The company is also involved in a number of neighborhood outreach programs. You can see if there are any near you when you visit the site. Be sure to check out their very active Facebook page, too, for additional opportunities and news related information.
New Futuro’s Social Media Strategist, Yessica Gamboa Guerrero says, “New Futuro was created with the purpose of inspiring people to believe and achieve their dreams through education.”
It’s a message that is spreading like wildfire in Latino communities across the country.
