HispanicBusiness

Southern California-based students take note: Applications are being accepted now for scholarships from the Hispanic Public Relations Association.

The nonprofit organization aims to help Hispanic professional communicators in Southern California enter and advance in the public relations and marketing communications fields.

Ten scholarships -- for Southern California natives and residents who attend school in California -- will be awarded. One is for $2,500 and nine others are $1,000 scholarships.

The organization is also partnering with member companies and agencies to help scholarship recipients get internships in communications fields.

The association created the scholarship program to recognize outstanding undergraduate Hispanic students who aspire to careers in public relations and related fields. The nonprofit group has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships so far.

"The HPRA scholarship program is important because Hispanic communication professionals continue to be in high demand," said Ivette Zurita of Edelman Public Relations, the organization's president. "HPRA is the only Hispanic organization that fosters Hispanic talent by helping students enter and advance in the industry."

Other requirements include: enrollment in a college or university by the fall of 2009; an incoming junior or senior student of at least 25 percent Hispanic descent with a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA and 3.0 GPA in their major subject; legal residency; a major in public relations, communication studies, journalism, advertising, and/or marketing. Students with other majors who wish to work in the public relations industry may also apply.

Additional information and forms are available at www.hpra-usa.org. The postmark deadline to apply is Friday, June 5.