HispanicBusiness

Hispanic high school students graduating in 2009 must apply by the Feb. 16 to be considered for scholarships offered by the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources (RMHC/HACER).

The application can be downloaded at www.MeEncanta.com or by visiting www.rmhc.org. High school counselors or college placement advisors can request applications by calling 1-866-851-3994.

Since 2008, Ronald McDonalds and HACER have given scholarships worth up to $100,000 each year to four Hispanic high school seniors. "Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, financial need and community involvement and awards range from $1,000 up to $100,000," notes the organization in a press release.

Brian Campos, who was awarded a $100,000 national RMHC/HACER scholarship in 2008, commented that the scholarship "has given me peace of mind that allows me to focus on my studies, not having to worry whether I will be able to afford a college education or not."

Ronald McDonald Charities pointed out that it had "awarded more than $19.1 million in scholarships" since 1985 in cooperation with HACER to "nearly 13,000 Hispanic students in the U.S., becoming one of the nation's largest programs providing financial support for college-bound Hispanic high school seniors."

In addition to supporting the scholarship program, McDonald's collaborates with the http://www.hsf.net/ Hispanic Scholarship Fund to present a series of free, bilingual workshops that give college-bound students and their families with essential college preparation information. The free workshops provide parents and students with extensive information regarding the college application process, covering also the topic of financial aid and how to apply for scholarships, including the RMHC/HACER scholarship. More information about the workshops is available at www.MeEncanta.com.

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