REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 23, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. announced that it is a proud sponsor of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Hispanic Heritage Awards honoring Hispanic-American role models and the youth they inspire. This week’s ceremony will mark the second year that Microsoft has sponsored the Science and Technology Youth Award.
“We are proud to support an organization that enables young Hispanics to realize their talents and educational dreams,”
said Orlando Ayala, group vice president of the Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services Group at Microsoft.
“In a world where information is exchanged with a stroke of a key, we are committed to providing the resources and tools our communities need to succeed.”
The Science and Technology Youth Award Microsoft sponsors enables outstanding young Hispanic-Americans to pursue their educational goals. This year’s recipient is Elisa Tatiana Juarez from Coral Reef Senior High School in Miami, Fla. She is one of seven national winners who will be recognized at the awards ceremony. Franc Camara, lead program manager at Microsoft, will present Juarez with the award.
“We are committed to supporting Hispanic youth in pursuit of excellence and community,”
said Camara, who migrated from a Mayan village in Yucatan, Mexico, at age 15 and who now chairs Microsoft’s Hispanic Employee Association.
“I reflect on my own journey in pursuit of an education and the many challenges I confronted. Today, I am on the other side, opening the door of opportunity a little wider for young Hispanics to pursue their dream.”
Over the past three years, Microsoft has committed more than $7 million in cash and software to community organizations, educational institutions and human service agencies serving the Hispanic community. Microsoft has invested in the education of Hispanic students by providing $4 million in software (retail value) and $623,000 in cash grants to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Juarez is one of many Hispanic students who will benefit from Microsoft’s support this academic year.
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