Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Hispanic higher education community honors USDA
with 2004 Outstanding Public Sector Partner Award

Miami, Florida – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) this week presented its highest public sector partnership award to the United States Department of Agriculture for promoting education and employment opportunities for Hispanic students.

“The United States Department of Agriculture is a longstanding partner with HACU and an outstanding supporter of our Hispanic higher education community under the visionary leadership of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

“We applaud the leadership of Secretary Veneman in building a better future for our students and for every diverse community of learning,” Flores said.

Flores presented HACU’s 2004 Outstanding Public Sector Partnership Award to Secretary Veneman and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during HACU’s 18th Annual Conference this week in Miami.

“We are pleased that the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has recognized the many USDA internship, scholarship, fellowship and grant programs available to improve the educational achievement of Hispanic students and prepare them for successful and rewarding careers,” Veneman said.

Each year, substantial grants are awarded to the country’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) through the USDA/HSI Education Grants Program. The USDA/HACU Leadership Group recently met with Secretary Veneman in Washington, D.C., as part of its ongoing efforts to expand USDA opportunities for the Hispanic higher education community.
HSIs are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more. Each year, USDA invests more than $30 million in educational programs targeting Hispanic students and institutions.

According to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, only 10 percent of Hispanics graduate from four-year colleges and universities. In 1996, the USDA established a landmark partnership with HACU to provide internship opportunities with the USDA through the acclaimed HACU National Internship Program, the country’s largest Hispanic internship program. Each year, approximately 100 students work for USDA agencies across the country, while pursuing degrees in agricultural science related fields.

A survey conducted in 2003 to determine the effectiveness of the HACU internship program at introducing students to careers in public service found that almost 90 percent responded that their experience had assisted them in reaching their educational goals. Half reported their internships helped them obtain jobs and 93 percent said that they would consider working for the USDA in the future. More than 20 percent of the interns surveyed are currently USDA employees.

To promote public service and to create access to higher education for Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students, the USDA launched the Public Service Leaders Scholarship in 2002, which builds on President Bush’s call on every American to give back to their communities and Veneman’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” initiative. Veneman established the initiative to strengthen USDA education programs, particularly those involved with mentoring young adults.

Selected students receive a full tuition scholarship for two years and prior to graduation intern with the USDA for a minimum of 640 hours. Upon graduation, students commit to work for the USDA for a minimum of two years. More than 30 Hispanic students are currently participating in this scholarship program and the first class of six students began working for the USDA this summer.

In Secretary Veneman’s remarks to the national HACU conference, she cited the importance of Hispanics in contributing to the nation’s continued economic growth. USDA plays an important role in economic development in rural America, providing financing for housing, community services and small business opportunities to help Hispanics open new businesses, buy their first homes and strengthen their roots in local communities.

HACU represents more than 390 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America and in Spain. HACU’s U.S. membership collectively serves more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students in the United States.

For more information, contact HACU at (210) 692-3805, Ext. 3214. Or visit www.hacu.net.