"Some of the most inspiring moments of the conference occur during the luncheon program," said Linda Mazon Gutierrez, President and CEO of the Hispanic Women's Corporation. "From thoughtful presentations from our top-notch speakers; commentary from business, community and government leaders and personal accounts from the scholarship recipients whose stories are some of the most admirable journeys that will ever be heard."
The Hispanic Women's Corporation (HWC) has made a proven difference in the academic and professional lives of its students. The HWC Scholarship Program provides not only tuition support, but advice, encouragement, peer contact with the colleges, role models, an alumni base and success stories to motivate students. Monetary awards are based on grade point average, financial need, interest, volunteerism and demonstrated leadership. Scholarship recipients include ACE community college students, university undergraduates, and masters and PhD candidates.
HWC also recognizes outstanding national individuals through the awards portion of the program. This year, the recipient of the National Latina Leadership Award, Nely Galán, will address the values of empowerment and entrepreneurship at the conference. As the former president at Telemundo and current CEO of her own media company, she has launched 10 groundbreaking television channels in Latin America. Galán was also responsible for creating and executive producing the smash FOX reality hit "The Swan", and as its in-house life coach, wrote the bestselling companion book "The Swan Curriculum". Recently Galán appeared on the NBC hit "The Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump."
Receiving the Lorraine Lee National Leadership Award will be Secretary of the US Department of Labor, Hilda Solis. Solis will be awarded for her accomplishments in government service and her 2009 appointment by President Barack Obama to head the US Department of Labor.
In addition, the first National Youth Leadership Award will be presented to high school junior, Toni Gutierrez of Palm Desert, California. Toni is a rising young Latina leader who works extensively with the National Girl Scouts Council. Last year Miss Gutierrez was the youngest emcee of the National Girl Scout Council Session, a conference of over 8000 attendees.
Miss Arizona 2009 ® Alicia-Monique Blanco will also be a featured guest of the luncheon in recognition of her charity work under her current title as Miss Arizona.
Outside of the luncheon conference attendees will have an opportunity over October 1st & 2nd to attend workshops based on the theme of Rising to Service and Change. Workshops will engage conference attendees in honing skills in personal and professional development in a personal, corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial arena as well as developing ways to give back to their community.
Other key events include a charity fashion show on the evening of Oct 1st as well as the Latina POWER Expo hall which will run throughout the conference and feature a variety of businesses and service organizations, a health fair, and a career resource center. The Latina POWER Expo is free and open to the public.
All events in relation to the 24th Annual Hispanic Women's Conference will take place in the Convention Center's South Building.
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