Monday, October 18, 2004 

For immediate release

Hispanic higher education community

honors Miami Dade College president

MIAMI, Florida – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) today presented the HACU President’s Award of Excellence to Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón as a national champion of Hispanic higher education.
 

“The Hispanic higher education community applauds Dr. Padrón for opening the door to college each year for so many Hispanic students, and for serving as a national voice for both diversity and academic excellence in higher education,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

Flores presented the national award to Padrón at HACU’s 18^th Annual Conference under way through Tuesday in Miami, Florida. HACU represents more than 350 colleges and universities that serve the largest concentrations of Hispanic higher education students in the United States, as well as an international membership of leading higher education institutions in Latin America and in Spain.

On Friday, HACU honored Padrón in a special tribute as part of HACU’s 2nd Annual “Celebra Educación” Fundraiser and Dinner also held in Miami to benefit Hispanic college students’ programs and scholarships.

Padrón, a founding member and past chair of the HACU Governing Board, presides over a college with the largest Hispanic enrollment in the country. Miami Dade College, which enrolls more than 160,000 students at its six campuses, ranks first nationally in associate’s degrees awarded to Hispanics and holds the number one ranking for overall degrees awarded.

A renowned advocate for underserved populations in higher education, Padrón has received presidential appointments from three U.S. Presidents. His numerous awards and honors include the highest distinctions from France, Spain and Argentina.

Padrón is a past recipient of the Chief Executive of the Year Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. He has also served on the boards of the American Council on Education, The College Board, Carnegie Foundation, U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and League for Innovation in the Community College.

For more information about HACU’s 18^th Annual Conference, visit http://www.hacu.net/, or contact HACU Public Affairs at (619) 997-1637