McDonald’s announced this 31 Hispanic students in the United States are beginning their college careers after receiving a total of half a million dollars as recipients of the HACER National Scholarship.
Founded by McDonald’s in 1985, HACER has grown into one of the largest college scholarship and resource programs for Hispanics, awarding more than $33 million to more than 17,000 students nationwide.
Now in its 38th year, the scholarship program continues to provide educational opportunities to help Reducing the gap between Hispanic students wanting to go to college.
Recent studies have revealed a promising trend showing that the number of Hispanic students pursuing higher education It is steadily increasing year after year.
Forecasts suggest that by 2026 The number of Hispanics in college will exceed 4 million, with a growth rate that exceeds any other racial or ethnic group by more than 10%. Despite this upward trend in enrollment, however, a persistent gap remains at four-year colleges, where the graduation rate of Hispanic graduates is 13% lower than that of their non-Hispanic white peers.
According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, the majority of Hispanic students who do not have a college degree and are not currently enrolled in an educational institution cite the following reasons: They have to contribute to the financial support of their families and cannot afford a four-year university degree.
“Everyone deserves a chance to achieve their dreams.. We recognize the financial hurdles many students and their families face in pursuing higher education, which is why McDonald’s and our Hispanic owner-operators remain committed to investing in and supporting educational opportunities,” said Richard Castro, owner /Operator of McDonald’s
President of the HACER National Scholarship.
Young Hispanics benefited in 2023:
Texas
· Amy Marquez de Riesel will attend Texas State University
· Cristal Hernandez, of Garland, will attend the University of Texas at Arlington
· Damian Brown of Corpus Christi, assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University
· David von Paumgartten from Buda will attend the University of Texas, Dallas
· Francelis Santiago Moreno of San Antonio will attend the Carolina Campus of the University of Puerto Rico
· Karen Abad of Houston will attend Carnegie Mellon University
· Marcela Mata of Mount Pleasant will attend Penn State University
· Matthew Lucio of Brownsville will attend the University of Texas, Austin
· Vanessa Veloz of Mineola will attend the University of Texas, Dallas
· Victoria Blankenship of Sherman, assistant professor at Texas A&M University, College Station
California
· Danna Chavarin of Sylmar will attend California State University of Northridge (CSUN).
· Maya Prieto, of San Pedro, will attend California State University, Long Beach
· Paola Chavez of Tulelake will attend Shasta College
· Sahid Mendoza from Delhi will attend the University of California, Merced
· Samuel Rodriguez of San Leandro will attend the University of California, Riverside
· Vianna Chavez of Riverside will attend the University of California, Los Angeles
· Yulianna Valdez of Montague will attend Shasta College
Connecticut
· Roselyn Nahuatlato of West Haven will attend Northeastern University
· Valentina Salazar of Unionville will attend the University of Connecticut
Minnesota
· Ashley Sosa Bustillos of Brooklyn Center will attend St. Catherine University
· Ashley Villar of Rochester will attend the University of St. Thomas. St Paul Minnesota
New Jersey
· Jaden McClarnon of Holmdel will attend Pennsylvania State University
· Jordana Romero-Jimenez of Scotch Plains will attend Seton Hall University
Florida
· Salomon Bibas of Miami will attend the University of Florida
Illinois
· Lilia Rodriguez of Hampshire will attend Illinois State University
Indiana
· Ariana Gualajara of Winamac will attend Ball State University
Kansas
· Robin Robles of Overland Park will attend Creighton University
New Hampshire
· Vanessa Flanders of Gilford will attend SUNY Cortland
Pennsylvania
· Angie Espinoza of Tobyhanna will attend the University of Pittsburgh
Rhode Island
· Anjelica Guarcas of Providence will attend Bentley University
Washington
· Vanessa Hernandez Crisostomo of Vancouver will attend the University of Washington, Seattle Campus
