WASHINGTON, DC -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of its internship program – the largest of its kind in the country – with a gala in the nation’s capital on Thursday, July 26, 2007 featuring remarks from dignitaries such as the Honorable Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

A highlight of the evening, scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the J.W. Marriott hotel, is the planned presentation to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus of an independent analysis showing that the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) not only increases professional career opportunities for participants, but serves as a “best practice” in the recruitment of Hispanics into the federal government.  Click here for a copy of the executive summary. 

“It is well documented that Hispanics remain the only under-represented ethnic group in the federal government,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “Today, Hispanics represent 7.5 percent of the Federal workforce--5.1 percentage points below the current civilian labor employment level.  With the help of HNIP, we are closing this gap and creating a proven pipeline of qualified Hispanics in the federal workforce.” 

Since 1992, the HACU National Internship Program has introduced more than 6,500 top college students, the majority of whom are Hispanic, to career and professional development opportunities through paid internships with federal agencies and corporations throughout the United States.

"The support from our partners and our sponsors over these fifteen years inspires us to aim for even greater achievements in our efforts to promote workforce diversity and a better future for our nation's Hispanic higher education students," Flores said. "My congratulations go to all of our current and former interns, who surely will be among our nation's leaders in the years to come."

The event is expected to attract nearly 500 attendees, including current and former interns, Members of Congress, the White House Administration and other distinguished guests. Representatives from federal agencies and corporations that partner with HACU will also be attending the event. The real “stars” of the celebration, according to HACU, will be past program participants who will serve as the voice of HNIP and will bring to life some of the success stories associated with the program. 

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