SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct 31, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Denny's announced today that through its partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, Inc. (HCF), it has awarded 27 scholarships of up to $5,000 to Latino students from across the country.
The 2007 HCF Denny's Scholars, including Rachel Amaro and Jaime Hernandez, were honored at HCF's 14th Annual Scholarship Awards Gala: Portraits of Success held in Washington, D.C. Sponsored in part by Denny's, the gala recognizes the achievements of Hispanic scholars at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The HCF scholarship program provides a merit and financial need-based scholarship to Hispanic students. To be eligible students must be:
-- A U.S. citizen of Hispanic/Latino heritage;
-- Pursuing a bachelor's degree in a major related to business, engineering, technology, entrepreneurship or that leads to a career in business;
-- In good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA; and
-- Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student for a full academic year.
Denny's partnership with HCF has helped more than 370 Hispanic students realize their educational goals by providing over $515,000 in scholarships over the past five years.
"Denny's is proud to help young Latinos working towards a higher education and we congratulate this year's scholarship winners," said Louis Laguardia, senior vice president of human resources and diversity. "Education can be the key to unlocking exciting opportunities. For more than 10 years, Denny's has been supporting young Latinos in their quest for a college degree."
Hispanic Business magazine recently ranked Laguardia among its 2007 list of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics." In 2006 Denny's was included in the magazine's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" and the company ranked 11th on a survey of the "Top 40 Companies for Hispanics" in 2005.
The Hispanic College Fund (HCF) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of Hispanic professionals in America. The HCF mission is to provide Hispanic students with the vision, resources, and mentorship needed to attain successful careers and become community leaders. Since its founding in 1993, HCF has supported the education of over 4,000 financially disadvantaged Hispanic students seeking careers in business, science, engineering and technology with over $9 million in grants. Through programs like the HCF Scholarship Program, Hispanic Youth Symposium, Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT), HCF Connections and the HYP Leadership & Development Program, HCF is enriching lives and building bridges for our future Hispanic leaders. For more information visit the HCF web site at www.hispanicfund.org.
Denny's (NASDAQ: DENN) is America's largest full-service family restaurant chain. For more than 50 years, Denny's has been committed to providing guests with quality food, abundant value and a great dining atmosphere. From its "always open" service to its famous Grand Slam(R) breakfasts, Denny's provides a variety of flavorful food and beverage choices for guests of all ages. For further information on Denny's, please visit our web site at www.dennys.com.
(Attached: Full List of Scholarships Winners, Their Home Towns and Their Universities)
2007 Denny's Scholars
Name Hometown State University
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Loyola Marymount
Luis Aceves Hawthorne CA University
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Texas A & M University -
Rachel Amaro Seagoville TX Corpus Christi
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University of Texas -
Vanessa Arevalo Houston TX Austin
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Florida International
Patricia Azuaje Miami FL University
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Massachusetts Institute
Barry Barrios Los Angeles CA of Technology
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Jessica Bormey Miami FL University of Miami
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Elizabel Cantu Houston TX University of Phoenix
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Priscilla Cavazos Richmond TX University of Notre Dame
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Florida International
Leilani Chirino Miami FL University
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University of South
Rocio Cisneros Greer SC Carolina at Spartanburg
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Rachel Escobar La Porte TX Santa Monica College
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Texas Wesleyan
Alejandro Fernandez Fort Worth TX University
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Greenville Technical
Natalia Gutierrez Mauldin SC College
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Jaime Hernandez Fort Worth TX Austin College
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California State
Andrew Hua Torrance CA University - Long Beach
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Amadeus Junqueria
Degarcia Miami Beach FL Emerson College
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Yiserlyn Marte Bronx NY SUNY College at Oswego
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North Harris Montgomery
Krista Martinez Magnolia TX Community College
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Julissa Mendez Boca Raton FL Florida State University
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Northern Arizona
Monica Meza Phoenix AZ University
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Horacio Necoechea Phoenix AZ Grand Canyon University
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Christina Nunez Arlinton TX Tarrant County College
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University of California
Luis Quinonez San Ysidro CA - Los Angeles
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University of California
Nathalie Quintero Delano CA - Berkeley
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University of West
Alfredo Ramos Homestead FL Florida
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Macarena Rufin Miami FL University of Miami
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Peter Somoza Phoenix AZ University of Arizona
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