Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Program Re-Cap

In collaboration with Austin ISD, City of Austin and Austin Energy, Jr Texas Leadership Pipeline Program,a year long program,brings high school students from across the district for quarterly sessions focused on identity, college and career readiness, service, academic success and leadership.

The first session of the Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Program was held on Saturday November 22, 2014. The focus for the first session was for the students to learn more about different colleges around the area and to start thinking about other college-related topics such as majors and financial aid.

During the session, students collaborated together to understand the meaning of leadership. Through hands-on and group activities, students discovered new ways that they could grow as leaders in their lives, classrooms and communities. Service was another concept that was focused on during the conference. As a group, students brainstormed ideas on ways that they could engage with their community.
The next conference will be held on January 10th, 2015 during HSC's Winter Summit. High school students will have a chance to network with current HSC scholars and will also have the opportunity to tour the ACC Eastview campus.  

For more information on the Jr. Texas Leadership Pipeline Program, click here.   
                                                               

 "My vision for the future: become a good person who helps others. have a great job that really makes me feel complete, and have a family." -Diana, 10th Grade

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Scholar Stories: Carmen D. Mercedez

Carmen Mercedez is a recipient of the "Dr. Janis Guerrero Thompson Memorial Scholarship" funded by the Austin Capital Area Community Leadership Council. She is a native of Las Vegas, NV and is expected to graduate on May 2015 from the University of Texas at Austin.
 
"HSC has been an integral part of my graduate school experience. Not only has the organization provided my family and I financial support to help pay for my PhD, but it has also provided emotional support through mentoring, workshops, leadership conferences and opportunities to network with other scholars and professionals."

Carmen has successfully overcame many obstacles as a first-generation college student. After attaining a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Educations and a Masters in Mathematics from UT-Austin, she uses her experience and knowledge to guide others in the same direction.

"As the first member in my family to graduate from high school, I knew very little about navigating college. Now, as a PhD candidate at the University of Texas-Austin majoring in Educational Administration, I am able to help others navigate and succeed in post-secondary settings, through my own lived experiences."

Carmen learned to navigate through college despite being the first in her family to attend college. Although she was faced with many struggles along the road, she did not let her hardships stop her from achieving her goals.
"Although I have experienced many hardships as a student, they have not stopped me from making my dream a reality. Juggling multiple jobs, kids, and school continues to bring me greater challenges but it has also made me stronger. I have endured much but through it all I know I have had the support of my HSC family---something I will value for years to come."

Carmen is actively involved at her campus in which she serves as a guide for mainly first-generations students. She has also had the opportunity to volunteer at Explore UT and study abroad.
"At the UT-Austin, I have been actively involved in the Gateway Scholars program and in research through Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success). This has led me to conduct several research projects, present at numerous conferences and attend several of their conferences."

In the future, Carmen plans to be a college professor. She gains experience by helping individuals earn college degrees and earn a living wage.


To donate to hard-working scholars like Carmen, please click here.

Hispanic Scholarship Consortium's Gala Espiritu Re-Cap

It was a fantastic evening on October 30th as Hispanic Scholarship Consortium celebrated 10 years of scholarship, mentorship and leadership.

The night started off with dinner provided by Habaneros, followed by HSC Awards and also silent auction.

Congratulations to The University of Texas-Division for Diversity & Community Involement for the Latinidad Award, U.S Representative Joaquin Castro & HUD Secretary Julian Castro for the Servant Leadership Award, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the Opportunity Award, Con Mi Madre for the Academic Success Award, and John Hogg & David Garza for the Dr. David B. Garcia Leadership Award.

From participating in the silent auction to attending the awards ceremony, over 120+ supporters of HSC attended the gala.

"It was great to have so many new and old supporters out to celebrate the last decade of HSC, director of Development Ashley Moyer said. "There was a very powerful moment when any one who has supported HSC in the past or believes in the mission of HSC was asked to stand. I looked around and the whole room was on their feet."

HSC would like to thank all the local businesses that donated supplies/services/food for the event.

"We received many donated items for the silent auction, intern Stephanie Espinoza said, " It is great to know the amount of  local Austin businesses that are willing to support non-profit organizations like HSC."

This event could not have been possible without the HSC Board of Directors,staff, interns, donors, sponsors and all the supporters.

"I want to thank everyone who made this night possible," intern Fabiana Melendez said. "It was an amazing experience to have been part of planning and attending the gala."

For the past 10 years, many accomplishments have been made at HSC, and there are bright plans in the future for the organization.

Many thanks go out to The University of Texas-At Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Concordia University, H-E-B,SOS Leadership, and Tito's handmade Vodka for sponsoring Gala Espiritu.

HSC will continue to strive to fund raise in order to continue to change student's life. Our goal is to assist many students that are promising leaders of tomorrow.

"HSC is always there for us in case we need any support." scholar Pablo Villalobos said.

If you were unable to attend, but would still like to show your support, you can make a donation online at 

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/hispanicscholar

To view the rest of the pictures, check out our Facebook page here.

Scholar Stories: Nathan Salazar

Nathan Salazar is a current HSC Scholar from Lubbock, TX. He is pursuing a Master of Arts in Political Science at Texas State University. His expected graduation rate is May 2015. He is a recepient of the "State Representative Irma Rangel Memorial Scholarship."

"HSC and the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin have and continue to play an integral part in my pursuit of higher education.Both, HSC and the HBAA, understand the importance of taking the time to listen to their members; thus allowing them to enlist future leaders from a diverse set of backgrounds. This time investment has been crucial to my success because it has allowed me to tell my story, as a Texan with Mexican roots, from a low-income community."


Regardless of being a first generation college student, Nathan overcame many obstacles in order to achieve successfully. 

"For the most part, I have faced many obstacles as a first generation college student. For me, a major issue I have overcame is the awareness of the numberless resources available to students. From emotional guidance to financial aid advice, students must make themselves aware of how the hidden and inner workings of higher education operate. Doing so, has allowed me to adapt and use education as a tool. A tool that I have learned to use at its upmost effectiveness to achieve my duty as a productive, pro-active member of my community."


Other than being a full-time student, Nathan stays actively involved at Texas State University by completing internships, serving as a writing tutor, and staying involved with Leadership programs. "Currently, I am involved in Texas State’s Leadership Capstone Program, which is geared towards exploring the complexities of leadership.Thus far, the program has allowed me to refine my leadership skills in preparing myself for future leadership roles and has given me the opportunity to continue service to others."


In the future, Nathan hopes to go to Law School and study international law and Human Rights to become a practicing lawyer. After Law school, Nathan hopes to go back to school and attain a PhD in Political Science.

To help fund Nathan's dream of going to Law School, please donate here.

Scholar Stories: Alumni: Arturo Frausto

Arturo Frausto is a HSC Scholar Alumni from Austin, TX. He graduated from Texas State University with a Spanish Major and a International Studies Minor in 2013. He is currently employed as a New Construction Manager at KB Homes.

"HSC has helped gain confidence in my abilities to grow as a leader and a person. HSC has made me believe with personal effort and vision goals can be accomplished through actions, not just dreaming."

Arturo shares his current goals and his personal and educational plans for the future.
"My goal is to do my job well and strive as a construction manager to build rapport with vendors in the construction industry.In my personal life I strive to grow in virtues such as discipline, courage, decision making. In my academic career I have given a thought to go to Graduate School but I have not come across a career that interests me that would move me to apply."

Arturo shares some key advice that he learned from his time at Texas State University.
"My advice to college students would be strive to get your work done between 9 and 4 each day. If you do so, you’ll have time to get involved in different organization that will help you grow and meet new people. Go to your career services and build up your resume. Life gets real and reach out if you need it. Remember, you have to “make moves, make something happen, take action, do a little digging (find information about a topic) ask, ask ask!” You shouldn’t wait to be handed everything. (Advice from my career field).

To help create more leaders like Arturo, please donate here.

Scholar Stories: Alumni: Krysta Atkinson

Krysta Atkinson is an HSC Alumni who graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work  in 2012. She is a native of Killeen, TX and is currently employed as a Administrative/Scholarship Program Coordinator at UT-Austin.


"As a first generation student I was so thankful for the financial support from HSC. Decreasing the financial burden took a huge weight off my mother's shoulders and my own. Getting my bachelor's degree was such a great accomplishment for me and for my family. It was something my mother had always wanted for me. HSC contributed greatly to my professional development by teaching me how to interact/network with other professionals and excel in an interview situation. I can say that this knowledge helped me to gain the knowledge and skills I needed to be a working professional."

Krysta plans to continue with her education and earn a PhD as well as work with non-profit organizations.
"I would like to continue my education in a Master's program, and later a PhD program. I would like to work in the non-profit or government sector to contribute to public policy changes and funding for education and assisting low income families. I would continue to enjoy working with under represented students and supporting them with academic resources and mentoring."

"HSC, the staff and board members have a wealth of knowledge and experience - do not hesitate to use your resources.

Time management is probably one of the biggest skills I benefited from as a student - balancing my time well truly helped me to succeed."

To help fund student's dream of reaching their educational goals, donate here.

Scholar Stories: Nathaniel Buescher

Nathaniel is a recipient of the Hispanic Chamber Foundation Scholarship funded by Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He attends Stanford University pursuing a Civil Engineering major and has been in the HSC Scholar program since 2013. Nathaniel is a native of Austin, TX.

"For many first-generation Hispanic students, applying to college is just half the battle. Finding ways to fund a college education and then beginning a journey that your family cannot relate to can prove to be an even more daunting task. However, when I thought I was alone to begin my college career, HSC was there to provide the network of support that I needed to become a successful student at Stanford University. Through professional development workshops, regular one-on-one advising sessions, internship/networking/research opportunities, and bi-annual leadership conferences for its scholars, HSC provides more than just financial aid. They provide the tools and resources that not only ensure that Hispanics are going to college, but that they graduate to become high achieving individuals in whatever they choose to do. HSC has given me the confidence to thrive throughout my first year at Stanford University!"

This past summer, Nathaniel had the opportunity to volunteer in Quito, Ecuador through Stanford's Volunteers in Latin America (VILA) program. He spent two months with other volunteers to organize and implement summer programs for street children in the city. Additionally, Nathaniel returned to Austin and volunteered at HSC's Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference. At the conference, Nathaniel shared his experiences as a first-generation college student and how he holds many leadership roles on-campus as a freshman.

Nathaniel is currently pursing a B.S in Civil Engineering in order to prepare him for work in water resourcing for developing communities where water is scarce. He also plans to stay involved in helping other first-generation, low-income students overcome the obstacles that they face during their journey to higher education.

To help other scholars like Nathaniel, please donate here.

Scholar Stories: Edilberto Alvarez

Edilberto is the recipient of the Roberto T. Chapa Sr. Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Fiesta de Independencia. He is studying Kinesiology at the University of Texas-At San Antonio. Edilberto is the first in his family to go to college. 


"HSC has helped me achieve my goals by not only providing me with financial support through scholarships, but also with the guidance they have given me in accomplishing my goal of being able to succeed in college. HSC staff have been great mentors to every single one of us scholars. Hearing their success stories and providing us with tips on how to succeed in and after college has been really helpful in pushing me to achieve my goals." 

Edilberto has not let the obstacle of being a 1st generation college student stop him in his goal of graduating in 2016. Last year, he worked multiple jobs while maintaining his schoolwork and involvement in the Psychology Club at UTSA. Edilberto shows great perseverance through his studies and HSC is proud of all of his accomplishments!

Student Stories: Daisy Aguirre

Daisy has been in the HSC Scholar program since 2012. She is a recipient of the Dr. Janis Guerrero Thompson Memorial Scholarship. She currently pursuing a degree in Bilingual Elementary Education at the The University of Texas at Austin. 


"HSC has motivated me to keep my grades up and give to the community. HSC enforces community service and has motivated me to volunteer and get experience. I have volunteered at schools, helping the students with their work. It has helped me prepare for my future as a teacher."

Daisy credits HSC for her hard-work and perseverance throughout school. "HSC requires a strong GPA in order to maintain our scholarships. I study in advance, as well as do my homework ahead of time, which has helped me be a better student." Daisy is preparing to graduate May of 2016. After graduation, Daisy hopes to become Bilingual Elementary teacher in Austin.

Scholar Stories: Adrianne Waddell

Adrianne is a third-year law student at the University of Texas School of Law with an interest in Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law, and Intellectual Property Law. She received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rice University in 2012. Adrianne has been an HSC Scholar since 2008. As an undergraduate student, she received the Hispanic Chamber Foundation Scholarship through the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Upon entering law school, she was awarded the State Representative Irma Rangel Memorial Scholarship funded by the Hispanic Bar Association- Austin. 

Adrianne at Rice graduation.

"HSC has supported my goals throughout my undergraduate and graduate career. HSC has enabled me to achieve these goals through it's leadership programming, support, and amazing network of professionals and resources.  My success as a student, leader, and professional are in part due to my experience as an HSC Scholar."

While in law school, Adrianne has served as President of the Chicano Hispanic Law Students’ Association and is currently Development Editor of the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal. Adrianne has clerked for the Travis County District Courts and Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody in Austin, TX. Prior to her third year, she will be working as a legal intern for Pioneer Natural Resources in Irving and Fletcher Yoder in Houston.

Adrianne was recently selected to be a Ms.JD Fellow! Ms.JD, a national organization, selected Adrianne based on her academic performance, leadership, and dedication to advancing the status of women in the profession of law.  Adrianne also gives back to HSC by serving on the HSC Alumni Association Executive Board. She is a great example of leadership and academic excellence that HSC embodies. We could not be more proud of Adrianne and all of her accomplishments. 

Scholar Stories: Tyler Angulo

Tyler is the recipient of the Hispanic Chamber Foundation Scholarship funded by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He attends Cornell University and has been in the HSC Scholar program since 2012. Tyler calls Round Rock, TX  home.

Tyler studying abroad 
in Madrid, Spain.

"The most worthwhile support that HSC has given me is through the Leadership Conferences. They are truly what sets HSC apart from every other scholarship program out there. Not only do we actually get to meet other scholars and professionals at these conferences, but they are also packed with very useful information about college, careers, and professionalism such that I become disappointed when I cannot attend. I am much more prepared walking into my last year of college as an HSC scholar rather than simply a graduate of my university."

Tyler is passionate about his involvement in Yamatai, a Japanese taiko drumming group at Cornell. As a freshman, he held leadership positions in the organization and will be serving as Music Director for his upcoming senior year. "I am happiest when leading groups, when creating something truly astonishing and magical, when  working with like-minded individuals, and when working mostly with the creative side of the brain."

Tyler plans to graduate May 2015 with a degree in Human Biology, and Health and Society. He hopes to find a career that merges his talents and interests. Tyler eventually plans pursue a post-secondary degree.  

2014 Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference

Last week, in a two-day span from July 29th to July 30th, the Hispanic Scholarship Consortim hosted its annual Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference in the Eastview campus of the Austin Community College. The conference was open to HSC Scholars to continue their path on becoming leaders in their own fields, as well as Austin ISD Hispanic freshman who were also invited to join the learning experience.  The Texas Leadership Pipeline’s primary goal was to ensure that the next generation of Hispanics are workforce-ready leaders with a philanthropic outlook once they reach their degree.  

Participants of this conference who were not HSC Scholars or Austin ISD students had the opportunity to follow one of the two tracks for the 2-day conference, the college track preferably followed by the HSC Scholars or the High School track followed by the Austin ISD students.  Each track had a variety of speakers who taught them supplemental education, such as applied skills for career achievement along with the tools for academic and personal success; however, each track focused on either college or high school.

"It's great to see so much support from our community for Hispanic students," said Ashley Moyer, Director of Development in the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium

Sessions ranged from different topics in the workplace, how to be a better student, and even the power that social media can have in a professional’s life.  

"It was great to see the participation of community members relaying the message of social media and what it means to future employers. It was a topic that is relevant to all students alike. I even learned a few things about LinkedIn that I never knew I could do!, said Ashley Vazquez, the Development Intern of the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium.

All participants gathered for an academic success panel with the St. Edward’s University CAMP Program and an interactive session with Dr. Federico Subervi.  The conference closed on Wednesday, July 30th with an Engaging Professional Luncheon where students had the opportunity to interact with successful professionals in their fields.  Furthermore, it also helped students put their networking skills to test during this experimental learning session, as well as giving the opportunity to high school studens to ask questions to HSC Scholars.

Students interact with Professionals

"Students heard from speakers about the importance of networking and finding mentors. At the Engaging Professionals Luncheon, conference participants were able to immediately take on what they learned in workshops. Community members in attendance at the luncheon came out to show their support of these students, their education and their future," said Ashley Moyer, Director of Development in the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium.

The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium thanks its generous donors, whose help made the 2014 Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference possible.

• Applied Materials Foundation
• Worldwide Clinical Trials
• HEB
• Texas Gas Service
• Comerica Bank

Also, a big shotout to ACC for being our gracious hosts!

North Austin Influencers Event

Last week North Austin Influencers hosted a mixer and silent auction at Zed's Restaurant to celebrate their first year and raise scholarship funds for both HSC and The National Black MBA Association-Austin Chapter (NBMBAA) students. Members of North Austin Influencers, NBMBAA, and HSC scholars were present to participate in the auction and mixer. During the auction HSC scholars spoke about the importance of the organization as well as how it has helped them to achieve success. Below are a few photos from the event: 

Thanks again to all the donors who gave items for the silent auction, and for the support from North Austin Influencers and NBMBAA.

Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference

From June 16th to June 19th, the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium hosted their first ever Latino Leader Program, the Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference, a program opened to Austin ISD Hispanic freshmen.  The conference focused on:

Evelina Solis.
Founder & President of Sol2Soul. 

1.       Developing the leadership capacity within the students to equip them to take full ownership of their lives and have the tools to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

2.       Cultivating a college-going culture.

3.       Actively promoting college and career.

4.       Taking on leadership roles.

5.       Building a sense of community.

The speakers and their workshops were centered on the themes and looked at college issues from various perspectives.  The sessions at the conference ranged from Jessica Carter, a Doctoral Student from the University of Texas at Austin, discussing the importance of a mentor to Evelina Solis’s presentation of realizing one’s dream and working towards it at a young age, because you never know if your health will always be with you.

“This really inspired as well as my own personal experiences to live my life to the fullest and to eat healthy,” said Eric, a 10th grade student at McCallum High School.

The combination of both professional speakers, current HSC scholars, and the workshops integrated the themes being presented to a more relatable viewpoint, often welcoming students to ask questions and express concerns about their futures.  Rather than having solely speakers discuss and lead conversation, several students in attendance showed a profound interest in the presentations and often sought the speaker at the end of the session to learn more about the subject.

“This session gives me a sense of mind. It is important to my future because there is a major difference between a Bachelor's and Master's degree.  Knowing that I can definitely go above what's expected is also a great motivation!,” said Stephanie, a student at Akins High School.

More than 30 students attended the conference.

Students also learned the different stereotypes that the Hispanic community has had to endure in the Hollywood movies.  Instead of focusing in the negatives aspects of those stereotypes, students were encouraged to think about it as a motivator to go beyond the expectations.

“Being Latina is important to me because I can show many others that do not believe in me that I can succeed in whatever I do.  I love my culture and I completely embrace it,” said Brianna, an enthusiastic 10th student.

The conference closed on June 19th with a tour in the University of Texas at Austin and a visit to the Texas Capitol where students heard from State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and Dr. Paul Cruz, Interim Superintendent of Austin ISD.

The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium sincerely thanks our sponsors for supporting our mission and making the Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference possible!

• Austin Energy
• City of Austin
• Austin ISD

The 2014 HSC Graduates

Last week, the HSC Alumni Association (HSCAA) hosted a mixer to celebrate the newest graduates. Alumni, board members, scholars, consortium members and staff all gathered at Casa Chapala Downtown to celebrate the 13 graduates. Each graduate in attendance received a certificate honoring them for the completion of the HSC program and welcoming them as alumni. Below are a few photos from the evening…

Join us in celebrating the graduates and welcome them as the newest Alumni of HSC. We are so proud of all of your accomplishments!

• Andrew Arebalo, Texas State University, Public Administration
• Tammy Argumedo, University of Texas at Austin, Communication Disorders
• Catherine Arriaza-Ortiz, Texas State University, Public Relations and Communication Design
• Luis Baez, Michigan State University, Law
• Samantha Chen, University of Texas at Austin, Engineering & Business
• Timothy Cruz, Texas State University, Psychology
• Manuel De Lara, Texas Tech University, Landscape Architecture
• Vivian Esparza, University of Texas at Austin, Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
• Marcos Larios, University of Texas at Austin, Business
• Amanda Mendiola, University of Texas at Austin, Law
• Raquel Mendoza, University of Texas at Austin, Education
• Sully Mejia, University of Texas at Austin, Social Work
• Vincent Rivera, Angelo State University, Exercise Science
• Rodolfo Rodriguez, University of Texas at Austin, Architecture
• Zuleyma Serrano, University of Texas at Austin, Government
• Victor Silva, University of Texas at Austin, Finance & Psychology

Congrats again to the HSC Class of 2014!

Amplify Austin Results!

The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium was proud to participate in the second annual Amplify Austin. Amplify Austin, sponsored by I Live Here, I Give Here is a 24-hour online initiative to give back to non-profits in Central Texas. Last year, Amplify Austin raised over $2.8 million and set a goal to raise $4 million this year. With 496 non-profits joining together this year, we surpassed the goal and brought in $5.7 million. Prizes were given to organizations that raised the most dollars, had the most donors, and gathered the most fundraisers.

HSC set a goal to raise $5,000 through Amplify Austin, but even our goals were met and exceeded. Once the day was over, donors contributed over $8,900! In total, we were able to assist our scholars through providing additional scholarships and mentorship through our program.

All of this success could not have happened without the help of our committed staff. HSC began prepping for Amplify Austin as early as January, coordinating newsletters and social media posts to coincide with Amplify Austin. On Friday, March 21st, the entirety of our staff continued to promote Amplify Austin through calling donors, sending e-mails, and posting on social media.

An additional thank you to Mr. Ted Heaton, who provided the 2 Julio Iglesias concert tickets as our raffle contest prize. We appreciate his continued support to our organization. Congratulations to the winner, Miguel F.! 

An Interns Prospective on The 2014 Legal Mixer

Meghan O’Garr is a Rhode Island native currently in her third year at St. Edward’s University and has interned at HSC for three semesters. The tagline in her email reads "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for," which she hopes serves as a reminder to constantly push the boundaries of one’s comfort zone. On a completely unrelated note, she had a near death drowning experience on a recent trip to Thailand.

When Justice Eva Guzman walked up to the check in table at the “Opening Doors: Meeting the demands of a 21st century global marketplace,” I was starstruck to say the least. After all, it’s not everyday that one has the opportunity to meet one of the “101 Most Influential Latino Leaders.” Justice Eva Guzman, the keynote speaker for the benefit hosted by the Gardere Law Firm, had a moving speech.

One guest remarked, “I walked away impressed with the scholars I met, and inspired by the words of Justice Eva Guzman.” In the words of HSC scholar Alan Guerrero, “Justice Eva Guzman is an inspirational woman to many in the Latino community. Her compassion and integrity are just a couple of her best aspects. Her achievements set the bar high and remind us what it means to be a proud Latino.” Guests were highly impressed by the location and throughout the night, many remarked on the beautiful view from the Gardere suite. At one point, I even considered becoming a lawyer so I could apply there and have that view as my backdrop everyday.

The most fulfilling thing for me was seeing our scholars network with the prestigious lawyers, legislatures, judges, and other prominent guests in attendance. Our older, seasoned scholars, especially those attending law school currently, are at ease with the people that will someday become their bosses, coworkers, and prospective clients.

It was the younger scholars that experienced the most growth from the experience. As a junior at St. Edward’s University, I’ve learned that it’s not what one knows, but who one knows. One of my favorite aspects of the HSC program is that our scholars learn firsthand how to network. It’s a skill that is necessary whether one is a law student or a chemist, and I think they’re doing pretty well.

2014 HSC Winter Leadership Summit!

HSC Scholars gathered once again for a day of learning and reflection during their college winter break on January 9, 2014.  The HSC Staff has decided that each conference will focus on its 5 HSC Pillars:  Academic Success & College Life, Service & Integrity, Leadership, Wellness & Identity, and Career & Graduate School Readiness.  Charles Schwab and The University of Texas at Austin’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement hosted HSC’s Winter Summit. 

This year, students gathered at the Thompson Conference Center on the campus of UT-Austin to learn from professionals and experts on Career & Graduate School Readiness.  Dr. Melissa Martinez from Texas State University & Dr. Teresa Granillo from UT-Austin spoke about their personal experiences applying to doctoral programs and succeeding as a Ph.D. student.  Michal Goldstein, owner of ATX Test Prep, informed HSC Scholars on the importance of test preparation (www.atxtestprep.com/).

During lunch, HSC Scholars and Alumni who are currently in graduate school spoke directly and personally to students about the tricks to getting into graduate school and the importance of Latinos applying to graduate school. 

In the afternoon, students received valuable information on post-college career readiness.  Merced Garza from Charles Schwab taught students the importance of financial responsibility during and after college.  Jamie Gaertner from Enterprise Holdings (www.enterpriseholdings.com/) taught students about perfecting the job interview while Juanita Baldwin from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (www.tceq.state.tx.us/) taught students on how to win the internship and get the most of that experience. 

The day concluded with a dinner hosted by Charles Schwab.  HSC Board Chair Joe Pelayo encouraged students to make the best of today’s lessons to achieve their goals.  Josefina Ibarra, HSC Alum, spoke about her career experiences and her continued journey to attend law school.

HSC appreciates the continued support of Dr. Gregory J. Vincent and The University of Texas Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (www.utexas.edu/diversity/). By underwriting the costs for the 2014 Winter Summit, our students will be successful graduate students and employees because of what they learned during the Winter Summit.

Welcome to the Team!

Ashley Alaniz-Moyer joins the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium as the Director of Development. Ashley is responsible for leading the fundraising and development to grow scholarship, mentorship and leadership programs at HSC. We are delighted to have her on our team!

Ashley has a strong passion for providing others the opportunity to achieve their goals through education. Since moving to Austin, Ashley has served as an Admissions Counselor with Concordia University Texas for the Accelerated Degree Program. There she encouraged adult students to complete their degrees to ensure future career success. Most recently, Ashley served as Director of Institutional Advancement for San Juan Diego Catholic High School.

Ashley earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Business at Texas Christian University. She is a proud Horned Frog who currently serves on the TCU Austin Alumni Board.   Additionally, Ashley will complete her Master in Business Administration with Concordia University Texas in May of this year.

Outside of work and school, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband and their two cats. During the falls, you will most likely find her wearing purple and cheering on TCU Football. She also enjoys watching NBA Basketball especially the Dallas Mavericks.

Help us welcome Ashley to HSC by emailing her at amoyer@hispanicscholar.org