BANK OF AMERICA INVESTS IN UH PROGRAM
FOR FIRST TIME COLLEGE STUDENTS
Donation Benefits Center for Mexican American Studies
HOUSTON, June 7, 2005—College was always a goal for Viridiana
Hernandez. The struggle to pay for it is the constant reality. When
the junior accounting major isn’t crunching numbers, she baby-sits
for families in her East End neighborhood to earn money for tuition.
Hernandez is one of 12 University of Houston students who will benefit
from a $150,000 donation from Bank of America to the University
of Houston’s Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS).
The daughter of immigrant parents, Hernandez is the first in her
family to go to college.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am,” Hernandez
said. “Bank of America is really sending a message that education
is important and that dreams of a college degree can come true.”
The 12 students selected are members of the CMAS Academic Achievers
Program. The program provides up to $2,500 a year for students who
are the first in their families to attend college. The program was
created in 1994 as an effort to retain students whose circumstances
put them at risk for dropping out of school. Each student must be
enrolled fulltime, attend mandatory study hall hours, leadership
workshops and seminars, and monthly counseling meetings. Students
must also sign a contract agreeing to abide by the requirements
of the program.
“Bank of America and the University of Houston share a common
vision of helping people achieve their dreams,” Rick Jaramillo,
Bank of America senior vice president said. “The Center for
Mexican American Studies makes that dream become reality.”
Hernandez says college seemed out of reach for many of her friends
who made other choices after high school.
“Many of my friends got married, had kids or went to work,”
Hernandez said. “I knew I wanted to go to college, and that
it would be a challenge to get there.” Her plans include learning
Chinese and going to law school.
Recipients of the Bank of America scholarships were chosen based
on grade point average and need. The 12 students will receive the
funds for two years.
“These funds will ease the financial hardship a bit and
help these students achieve their goal of a college education,”
Rebecca Trevino, program manager for CMAS said.
For more information about the UH Center for Mexican American Studies,
please visit http://www.class.uh.edu/CMAS/
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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