Hispanic Community Affairs Council Awards 51 Scholarships

The Hispanic Community Affairs Council (HCAC) will award 51 scholarships to students from Alameda County who plan to attend community colleges or continue their studies at universities throughout the country.

Those attending four-year collegess will get $1,500 scholarships. Community college students will get $750.

The winners in Castro Valley and San Lorenzo are:

1. Lisha Pacheco of Castro Valley has been attending Chabot College but will be transferring to UC Berkeley to study International Relations
2. Marisa Jimison of Castro Valley has been at Chabot College but will transfer to SFSU to study Linguistics
3. Hozmar Octavio Fierro Ortega of San Lorenzo has been at Coliseum College Prep Academy but is headed for Santa Clara University

More than 160 students applied for HCAC scholarships and went through a rigorous application process that included writing essays, as well as undergoing interviews and reviews of their community service. 

HCAC Co-Presidents Ana Apodaca and Gene Calderon said the winners are "willing to reject stereotypes, peer group pressure and other obstacles to reach their goals.”

The scholarship committee is chaired by Sandra Genera.

HCAC began awarding scholarships in 1983 giving four awards of $1000. 

The non-profit organization has given scholarships to over 2,000 students, totaling over $1.5 million dollars over the last three decades. 

HCAC has no paid staff or consultants and all donations are used for scholarships.

The awards luncheon will be held on Friday, May 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Newark-Fremont Hilton Hotel in Newark.  Luncheon tickets are $60.

For ticket information, contact Arnold Chavez at 510-331-1438. 

For more information about the HCAC Scholarship Program visit the website at www.hcac-ca.org.