Non-profit organization HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its Three Kings Banquet, an annual celebration recognizing those who have gone above and beyond to inspire and support Latino youth to realize their potential and ability to succeed in education, on January 16, 2025, at Pines Manor in Edison, NJ, and January 23, […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Inspiring Hispanic Youth
Pennington, NJ – On October 3, 2024, HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its annual Role Model Program Kick-Off and Recruiting Event at Bank of America. Themed “Pioneers of Change: Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” this event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and unites Latino professionals dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders by sharing their personal stories of success and perseverance.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and fulfill their academic and professional potential. Since 2007, HISPA’s programs have reached over 27,000 students in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with welcoming remarks from Alberto Garofalo, President of Bank of America New Jersey and Head of Global Corporate Security and Executive Protection.
HISPA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, will then speak on the theme of “Pioneers of Change,” spotlighting HISPA’s ongoing efforts to use the power of sharing our stories to inspire Latino youth and empower our communities.
Attendees will then hear a testimonial from Miguel Hernandez-Delgado, a The College of New Jersey student and alumnus of the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program.
The event will also feature a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” moderated by HISPA Board of Directors member Roy Love. Panelists, who will speak on what they believe is the number one attribute of being a “Pioneer of Change” in the Latino community, include:
- Kevin C. Hudson, Associate Director for Institutional Diversity and College Opportunity, Office of the Provost, Princeton University
- Dorca Gilbertson, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Client Manager, Merrill Lynch and Investment Solutions Group
- Lorena Kuri, Global PBRG Lead OLA (Organization for Latino Achievement), Bristol Myers Squibb
- Ismael Nibot, CIMA®, Talent Acquisition Partner, Community Co-chair, Prudential Financial
Lauren Mugavero, CIMA®, Managing Director, Head of Investment Advisory Specialists at Bank of America, will close the evening by calling the audience to support HISPA’s mission as role models and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders by sharing their own stories. Guests are then welcome to enjoy networking and refreshments, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect, engage, and explore ways to get involved in HISPA’s efforts.
Join us on October 3 and help shape the future of Latino youth! Visit https://hispakickoff.org/ to register.
HISPA is proud to acknowledge its 2024-25 Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation , and PSEG, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, ETS, Prudential Financial, and Visa.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Inspiring Hispanic Youth
Miami, FL – On September 19, 2024, HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its annual Role Model Program Kick-Off and Recruiting Event at the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School. Themed “Pioneers of Change: Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” this event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and unites Latino professionals dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders by sharing their personal stories of success and perseverance.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and fulfill their academic and professional potential. Since 2007, HISPA’s programs have reached over 27,000 students in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with welcoming remarks from Roger Barascout out, Associate Dean of Administration & Chief of Staff at University of Miami Herbert Business School, and Monica Diaz of HISPA’s Board of Directors.
HISPA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, will then speak on the theme of “Pioneers of Change,” spotlighting HISPA’s ongoing efforts to use the power of sharing our stories to inspire Latino youth and empower our communities.
Attendees will also hear from two prominent inspirational speakers: Eli Velazquez, Executive Vice President of Sports at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, and Samuel Garcia Jr., Ph.D., Education Professional Development Specialist and Project Coordinator at NASA Kennedy Space Center. These influential leaders will share their experiences and insights, demonstrating the transformative impact of role models and leadership within the Hispanic community.
The event will also feature a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” moderated by HISPA Board of Directors member Rene Herrera (Amazon). Panelists, who will speak on what they believe is the number one attribute of being a “Pioneer of Change” in the Latino community, include:
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Angelica Santibanez, Head of Community Engagement – FL, Amazon
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Laura Pozo, Senior Vice President; Process Design Manager, Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America
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Amaury Genao, Community, Citizenship & Sustainability Manager, Turner Construction Company
Andres Polo, of Visa and HISPA’s Board of Directors, will close the evening, calling the audience to support HISPA’s mission as role models and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders by sharing their own stories. Guests are then welcome to enjoy networking and refreshments, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect, engage, and explore ways to get involved in HISPA’s efforts.
Join us on September 19 and help shape the future of Latino youth! Visit https://hispakickoff.org/ to register.
HISPA is proud to acknowledge its 2024-25 Florida funders, whose generous support is instrumental in expanding HISPA’s impact across the state: Amazon, Visa, and Turner Construction Company .
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation, and PSEG, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, ETS, Prudential Financial, and Visa.
HISPA CEO Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, had the amazing opportunity to interview with ABC Tiempo! Thank you so much for allowing us to share HISPA’s work and showcase our distinguished 3 Kings Banquet awardees with your audience. Your team was fantastic, and Dr. Diaz appreciated the warm welcome. Big thanks to Joe Torres for the thoughtful questions and […]
2024 Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program
Why You Should Apply?
The Fellows Program attracts high-performing students with an interest in diversity and inclusion who seek to acquire the skills necessary for success in a professional workplace.
The Fellows will be coached on skills such as written communication, negotiation, public speaking, organization and time management, professional etiquette, giving and receiving feedback, and so on.
The Program combines practical, hands-on experience with traditional classroom instruction, guest presentations by leading professionals, as well as other unique skill-building opportunities.
Overall, the Program leads to increased preparedness for a professional workplace and imparts the skills necessary for Latin@ to flourish as professionals in our 21st century economy.
Program Requirements
We welcome applications from students who are:
- Resident of New Jersey
- Of Hispanic descent
- Enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college or university program
- U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
Deadline: Friday, December 8, 2023 – 2024 Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program Student Application
Learn more about it here: https://www.nj.gov/state/chprd-hispanic-fellows-program.shtml
EDISON, NJ—The Three Kings Banquet, HISPA’s annual fundraising gala and awards ceremony, is coming up this January 2024. This evening of celebration recognizes the outstanding individuals, companies, and employee resource groups whose endeavors coincide with HISPA’s mission and directly benefit educational empowerment for Latino youth. For those interested in supporting this event, you can become an event sponsor, purchase tickets, or donate. More details on how to get involved can be found on the event website: 3kings.hispa.org.
What: HISPA Three Kings Banquet
Who: Event awardees and speakers include:
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Leadership in Mentoring Award – Tony Rodriguez, Associate Director of PMO Process Governance and Portfolio Planning, Bristol Myers Squibb
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TRANSFORM Award for Sponsor of the Year – Merck
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INSPIRE Award for Champion of the Year – PSEG Adelante
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SHARE Award for Role Model of the Year – Lorraine Nieto, Verizon
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CORAZÓN Award – NJIT
When: January 18, 2024, 6 p.m. ET
Locations: Pines Manor, 2085 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817
When: January 25, 2024, 6 p.m. ET
Location: InterContinental at Doral Miami, an IHG Hotel, 2505 NW 87th Ave, Doral, FL 33172
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Founded in 2007, Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes Hispanic professionals to eradicate one key reason why Latino youth do not pursue education: a lack of role models. By uniting students with successful role models who share a language and culture, HISPA positively impacts students’ attitudes toward and awareness of college and career opportunities, particularly in STEM. In 2020, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, with the National Science Foundation (NSF), named HISPA as one of three organizations to receive the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), the highest national STEM mentoring award bestowed by the White House.
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Founding Partners Verizon and Visa, Co-found Partners and Supporters Merck, the U.S. Navy, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Victoria’s Secret & Co., and Bloomberg, and Annual Partners and Supporters the PSEG Foundation and Educational Testing Service.
Learn more at www.hispa.org.
PSEG, a New Jersey-based energy company, is partnering with Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) to support the development of Hispanic students.
“The PSEG Foundation provides funding for these programs to support youth development in a way that directly ties education to careers,” said Maria Spina, manager of the PSEG Foundation. “These programs also have a strong professional development component, enabling employees to represent PSEG within the communities in which they live and work.”
The partnership between PSEG and HISPA helps empower Latino youth and bridge the gap between education and career opportunities. Learn more about it here.
Inspiring performance and achievements, one student at a time
As executive sponsor for Alianza, Isabel Duffy shares the group’s three pillars and how she’s seen Merck senior leaders support resource groups across the organization.
The EBRG also works with New Jersey-based nonprofit HISPA to provide more role models for young Hispanics about what their lives could be.
HISPA Featured in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
HISPA’s CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, is on the cover of the prestigious Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (Vol. 40, Issue 13). We are highly honored to have our organization recognized by such an esteemed publication. This occasion underscores the importance of Latino role models. It celebrates our students, allies, and everyone who has supported our mission.
Thank you, Diverse, for sharing our story and highlighting the significance of supporting Hispanic student success and representation.
Access the latest issue of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and read about HISPA here: https://bit.ly/3ZMAfq5