[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6340]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO TELACU FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ADVANCEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT 
                               OF LATINOS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today and 
ask Congress to recognize May 20th as TELACU Scholars Day.
  The TELACU Education Foundation was established in 1983 to respond to 
crisis-level dropout rates for Latino Students and has since grown into 
the largest community and economic development corporation in the 
United States. TELACU is a pioneering institution committed to service, 
empowerment, advancement and the creation of self-sufficiency within 
the Latino community.
  To address the distinct struggles many Latino youth face, TELACU 
established the LINC TELACU Education Foundation (LTEF). For upwards of 
two decades, the Education Foundation has been working towards removing 
the formidable barriers that could prevent Latino youth from achieving 
academic success and providing them with professional and academic role 
models. I am proud of the way the LINC TELACU Education Foundation has 
contributed to the development of our future Latino leaders.
  The TELACU Education Foundation realized that there is no more vital 
asset in any community than its human capital and began their efforts 
to reverse these trends. For instance, The LINC TELACU Scholarship 
Program is an exemplary program that helps students realize their dream 
of a college education by providing scholarships and supplemental 
support.
  Although TELACU understands that financial assistance is a vital 
component for college students to achieve academic success, they also 
recognize the underlying challenges many young adults face including 
socioeconomic factors, family responsibilities, cultural identity, and 
financial solvency. Students who are the first member of their families 
to pursue a college degree often must make their own academic support 
system in order to achieve their dreams. TELACU understands these 
challenges.
  The LINC TELACU Scholarship Program provides its youth not only with 
monetary assistance, but with the counseling, leadership training, and 
time management training necessary to help students achieve their 
dreams.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor TELACU, 
the LINC TELACU Education Foundation and for Scholarship programs like 
this one, for believing in the dream of higher education for all of 
America's next generation of leaders. I extend my congratulations to 
the TELACU scholars and the people who make their dreams a reality as 
they celebrate the 28th Annual TELACU Education Foundation Scholarship 
Awards Dinner, Building the Dream, on Friday May 20th, 2011.

                          ____________________