MIAMI, Oct. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and its sponsors will honor 21 Latino high school seniors from the Miami region for their accomplishments in the classroom, community and their focus on various categories during the 16th Annual Miami Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards on October 28 at the University of Miami. HHF will also promote the young leaders as role models for their peers through social media as they move forward to college and provide them with grants, which can be used for their education or social entrepreneurship to support their leadership for years to come. Past Youth Awardees will join elected officials, educators, community and business leaders, and families in celebration of the students' achievement. After the Regional Youth Awards Ceremonies in 10 markets, one recipient will be chosen in each of the categories to attend the National Youth Awards in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January 2015 with celebrities. (Recipients' average GPA is over a 3.5).
The Youth Awards Ceremony will take place at the University of Miami – Newman Alumni Center Multipurpose Room A and B, 6200 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146 (Reception with food and beverages at 6:00 p.m. – Ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. local time).
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Business & Entrepreneurship – sponsored by BBVA Compass
- Gold: Naomi Cabrera, G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School
- Silver: Briam Hernandez, Westland Hialeah Senior High School
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Bronze: Daniela Gonzalez, Miami Jackson High School
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Education – sponsored by Southwest Airlines
- Gold: Annabel Campo, Western High School
- Silver: Samuel Vilchez, Colonial High School
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Bronze: Celine Rodriguez, West Broward High School
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Engineering & Mathematics – sponsored by ExxonMobil
- Gold: Daniela Marques, Berkeley Preparatory School
- Silver: Gabriel Croitoru, Cypress Bay High School
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Bronze: Josefa Osorio, American Heritage School
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Healthcare & Science – sponsored by CVS Caremark Workforce Initiatives
- Gold: Natalie Raterman, Berkeley Preparatory School
- Silver: Jesiline Capo, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
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Bronze: Juana Domingo-Jimenez, Lake Worth Community High School
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Innovation & Technology – sponsored by Entertainment Software Association
- Gold: Melanie Lo, West Broward High School
- Silver: Michael Samper, Miami Lakes Educational Center
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Bronze: Gabriela Abadia, Suncoast Community High School
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Sports & Fitness – sponsored by NASCAR
- Gold: Loana Nardoni, Mater Academy Charter High School
- Silver: Sabrina Verdes, Felix Varela Senior High School
- Bronze: Katie Anne Camero, New World School of the Arts
"The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is looking forward to another group of young leaders from the Miami area that we can count on for the future and right now," said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. "We don't want to simply honor the outstanding students but more importantly put them in a position from which to lead. Our model is to support innovative leaders to impact thousands of others in industries and fields which are priorities for America's workforce. And we are grateful to our dedicated sponsors who also realize the importance of tapping a resource like our Latino youth to move not just our community but America forward."
After receiving the awards, the students are funneled into HHF's LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) award-winning, leadership and workforce development program focused on 10 "Tracks" or fields including healthcare, science, technology, engineering, education, public service, entrepreneurship, media and entertainment, finance and Latinas. Tens of thousands of students and young professionals are connected to each other through the LOFT Network; thousands are prepared through trainings, priority-field-tailored symposia, workshops, and Charlas (online Google hangouts with experts); and hundreds are placed into internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Join and follow LOFT on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/hhfloft/ and Twitter - @LOFTInstitute.
Youth Awards Regional Ceremonies have taken place or will take place in:
| Phoenix | Oct. 21, 2014 | Arizona State University |
| Los Angeles | Oct. 22, 2014 | University of Southern California |
| Miami | Oct. 28, 2014 | University of Miami |
| Atlanta | Nov. 18, 2014 | Georgia Tech University |
| Dallas | Nov. 20, 2014 | Southern Methodist University |
| Chicago | Nov. 24, 2014 | Loyola University |
| Houston | Dec. 2, 2014 | University of Houston |
| San Jose | Dec. 4, 2014 | Stanford University |
| Washington, DC | Dec. 9, 2014 | Capitol Hill |
| New York | Dec. 16, 2014 | Viacom |
| National Youth Awards | January 2015 | TBD |
Additional partners of the Youth Awards include: UPS, PhRMA, Google, NRCCUA, Direct Auto Insurance, Rebuild the Dream, i.am.angel Foundation, Qlovi, OCI Group, Es Tiempo, and Voto Latino.
About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation – a nonprofit established by the White House in 1987 – inspires, prepares, and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America's priorities in 10 areas of focus. HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions. HHF is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and the LOFT Institute is housed at Michigan State University (Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org.)