"Our members are deeply concerned that only about half of all DC students are graduating from high school at a time when education is the key to unlocking and securing a prosperous future.  We are especially troubled that the schools these children attend are in serious need of repair and modernization and that these upgrades are so often placed at the bottom of the priority list because of the district's fiscal challenges,” said Susie Saavedra, Vice-Chair for community relations.

The HACU Alumni Association (HAA) is made up of beneficiaries of HACU’s student programs that include HACU Scholarship Program, Student Ambassador program and the nationally acclaimed HACU National Internship Program (HNIP).  HNIP was established in 1992 by HACU to address the shortage of Hispanics in the federal labor force, with a Corporate HNIP component added in later years.  The Alumni Association participates each year in community volunteer activities, while also acting as role models and mentors to new interns.

“DC has given us so much opportunity to grow and advance our careers

that we feel a moral obligation to give back to our community.  National

Youth Service Day is one of several events we hope to organize and engage our

 members in this year,” said Susie Saavedra, Vice-Chair for community relations.

National Youth Service Day (NYSD) is one of the largest volunteer events in

the world.  Serve DC, formally known as the DC Commission on National and

Community Service, will lead the citywide event for the fourth year in a row,

mobilizing District youths and their families to participate in various creative

community service projects, which impact the DC community.

“Growing up in Puerto Rico and having the opportunity to be an Intern three times in DC, I consider DC my second home.  The NYSD was a great opportunity to help the community and also put the HACU Alumni Association in the public eye”, said Wilson O. Quiles-Vazquez, HNIP Spring 2005 Ambassador.

HNIP was established to reverse the under-representation of Hispanics in the federal government and has since been lauded as an “enviable” recruitment tool by independent surveys. Each year, many interns accept full-time job offers after completing 10- and 15-week assignments during spring, summer or fall sessions.

During 2004, when HNIP surpassed the 5,000-mark for student participation, more than 500 interns were on the job at 21 federal agencies and five private corporations. The 15-week 2005 spring session of HNIP, which began this month, welcomed more than 80 new interns. The 2005 summer session – the program’s largest session – will begin in June.

In addition to on-the-job training, HNIP interns are provided professional development workshops and career networking opportunities such as annual career fairs and the Congressional Breakfast Series in Washington, D.C. HNIP also has spawned an active alumni association with members who participate in community volunteer activities and serve as mentors to new interns.

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