[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 25144-25145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  IN RECOGNITION OF MS. YALILE RAMIREZ

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, at the Hispanic College Funds 
Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet earlier this month, Ms. Yalile 
Ramirez, recipient of the Hispanic College Fund Award for 2000-2001, 
gave a speech regarding the upliftment of the Hispanic-American 
community which I found to be extremely insightful. I rise today not 
only to insert her remarks into the Congressional Record, but also to 
salute an extraordinary young woman with a bright future ahead of her.
  Ms. Ramirez was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is 
currently a senior at Michigan State University, where she is pursuing 
a double Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Finance. In 
May of this year, she graduated from the University's James Madison 
College of International Relations, so she is now focusing her efforts 
on her financial studies.
  In addition to receiving the Hispanic College Fund Award, Ms. Ramirez 
has received the Bill Gates Millennium Scholar Award. She made the 
Dean's List in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and in 1997 was presented with the 
National Dean's List Award.
  Ms. Ramirez is a member of the Women in Business Student Association, 
the Phi Beta Delta National Honor Society, the American Advertising 
Federation: Research Team Leader, and the Phi Sigma Pi Co-Ed National 
Honors Fraternity. She is also a Mentor Program Coordinator, and spends 
her remaining free time with aerobics, running and volunteering.
  I applaud Ms. Ramirez on her many achievements both on and off the 
campus of Michigan State University. She is not only a dedicated 
student but also a dedicated member of society, concerned with a great 
deal more than her own success. As is clearly illustrated in her 
remarks, she cares deeply about the upliftment of America's Latino 
population, and believes that this upliftment can best occur through 
economic empowerment--attaining positions of leadership within the 
business community. In the not too distant future, I look forward to 
seeing Ms. Yalile Ramirez become one of these leaders. With that having 
been said, I ask to print her remarks of October 5, 2000, in the 
Record.
  The remarks follow:

   Remarks by Ms. Yalile Remirez at the Hispanic College Fund, Inc., 
                   Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet


                            OCTOBER 5, 2000

       Good evening ladies and gentlemen, my name is Yalile 
     Ramirez. I am a senior, pursuing a double Bachelor's degree 
     in International Relations and Finance at Michigan State 
     University. First, I would like to thank Sprint for making my 
     scholarship possible. I would also like to thank the Hispanic 
     College Fund for granting me the honor of speaking to you on 
     this special night. When I started to think about what I 
     could share with you this evening, I asked myself ``What am I 
     an authority on?'' So, I decided to talk about the one thing 
     I have mastered, being me.
       In some aspects, my involvement in the Latino community has 
     differed from what some of my fellow peers and faculty 
     members believe it should be. When I first attended MSU, I 
     was not fully aware of all the issues confronting the Latino 
     community in the U.S. And I did not have any Latino role 
     models to whom I could turn to for guidance, with the 
     exception of my parents. However, I was aware of the 
     inequities embedded within our society. I knew we were a 
     different color, I knew we spoke a different language and I 
     knew many in America did not welcome this diversity. At the 
     college level, my experiences with fellow Latino students and 
     faculty members has heightened my interest and sensitivity to 
     Latino issues. I strongly support our community and 
     participate in a select number of activities. However, the 
     career path I have chosen also differs from those that many 
     have elected to pursue; such as education, criminal justice, 
     political science and pre-law.
       While many of them are demanding justice through political 
     rights and representation, I seek economic empowerment. 
     Economic empowerment is derived from our continual plight for 
     justice, political power and independence. We can look back 
     to our history dating back to the American Revolution. Was it 
     all for greater religious freedom or greater economic 
     freedom?
       My family has struggled economically and socially in 
     pursuit of the American dream for our family and for 
     generations yet to come. As first generation American Latina, 
     I recognize the importance of economic empowerment in our 
     community. While possessing a flagrant entrepreneurial spirit 
     and great patriotism to the American form of capitalism; 
     resources, capital, and networks are salient to real 
     empowerment. But, where do we go to obtain these resources? 
     To whom do we turn to with confidence, respect and trust? 
     Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are among those resources 
     right here, right now. With a vigorous economy and a fast 
     growing Latino population, our Latino community is coming of 
     age. How will we succeed? Latino business leadership is 
     paramount to attaining prosperity in our communities and in 
     sustaining future success. By seizing this opportunity and 
     creating a network of Latino businesses and business leaders, 
     we can actualize a network of resources and capital for 
     future entrepreneurs. Latino business leadership has a 
     profound impact in our Latino community by creating 
     opportunities to produce and access resources. For me, then, 
     real economic empowerment and leadership will assist in our 
     overall pursuit of our economic well-being and prosperity. We 
     have to expand the opportunities to enter the business 
     sector. Once we enter and thrive in that arena, it is 
     imperative to sustain and share our economic power with a new 
     generation of leaders. Economic empowerment. To put it 
     another way, I choose a quote from the Chairman of the 
     Hispanic College Fund, Mr. Dario Marquez.
       ``What we want is a seat at the table of dialogue and 
     debate in government, academia, and in industry--not a seat 
     that has been assigned--but as many seats as our abilities 
     and talents will afford.''
       Finally, I have been honored to have been selected as a 
     scholarship recipient of the HCF. I would like to also 
     congratulate the

[[Page 25145]]

     other recipients gathered on this stage tonight and all the 
     others enrolled in colleges and universities across the 
     country. On our behalf and on behalf of our families and 
     communities, we thank all the companies, businesses, 
     individuals, and events that donated the funds that helped us 
     afford a college education. And, I am especially grateful to 
     Sprint for making my scholarship possible. This scholarship 
     is not only monetary assistance but also an investment in a 
     woman with great potential for realizing future success. I 
     have struggled with economic and social issues and I firmly 
     believe that education is the key that will unlock our full 
     potential as Latinos and ultimately contribute to the 
     economic prosperity of America. Let us continue to pursue a 
     better future for our and future generations.

                          ____________________