The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works to increase the number of Latina and Latino leaders in society.  The Hispanic Heritage Awards were founded in 1987 as part of the first Hispanic Heritage Month and hosted by over thirty-five national Hispanic organizations, which honor the contributions of Latinas/os in the fields of  arts, education, leadership, literature, math/science, and sports, as well as Vision and Lifetime Achievement Awards. In recent years, the awards ceremony has been televised on both NBC, Telemundo, and Mundo Fox.

One of their program is the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards which honor Latina/o high school students who demonstrate leadership potential and support them as they move through college and into graduate school and/or the workplace, especially in the STEM fields and in the “Green Industry”.  As of 2013, the award categories include business/entrepreneurship, education, engineering/mathematics, healthcare/science and innovation/technology. Other categories have been included such as media, entertainment, and sports.

This year, the 22nd Annual Youth Awards will award students who are in the graduating Class of 2021 with up to $1000 in educational grants to fund their higher education or a community-based project.  The deadline is December 6, 2020.  Recipients will be selected for their accomplishments in the classroom, community and for their excellence in various educational categories. Recipients will also be celebrated in virtual ceremonies.

Seniors can apply here: Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards