[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5461]
[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

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2012

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today and 
ask Congress to recognize June 8th as TELACU Scholars Day.
  The TELACU Education Foundation was established by TELACU in 1983 to 
respond to crisis-level dropout rates for Latino Students. As 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.
  Realizing the high dropout rates for Latino students, the TELACU 
Education Foundation responded by investing in our youth through 
education to create a strong future for our country. TELACU began its 
efforts to reverse high dropout rates among Latino students by 
providing monetary support and counseling for first generation and low 
income students. The 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, it also 
recognizes 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.
  For nearly three decades, the Education Foundation has worked to 
remove the formidable barriers that often prevent Latino youth from 
achieving academic success and providing them with professional role 
models and academic support. The 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.
  I am proud of the way the TELACU Education Foundation has contributed 
to the development of our future Latino leaders. Each year, TELACU 
supports 500 Latino college students and 1,500 middle and high school 
students. In each program, 100% of the students graduate.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor TELACU, 
the TELACU Education Foundation and 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 29th Annual TELACU Education Foundation Scholarship 
Awards Dinner, Building the Dream, on Friday, June 8th, 2012.

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