[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2011)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59499-59500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24888]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 186 / Monday, September 26, 2011 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 59499]]


                Proclamation 8718 of September 21, 2011

                
National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, 2011

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                To win the future and restore our position as the 
                global leader in education, we must ensure all young 
                Americans, regardless of background, have the 
                opportunity to realize their full potential. As our 
                Nation's largest minority group, Hispanics represent 
                more than 11 million students in America's public 
                elementary and secondary schools. During National 
                Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Week, we renew our 
                commitment to strengthening and expanding opportunities 
                in higher education for our next generation of Hispanic 
                leaders.

                The hundreds of HSIs across our country are helping 
                Hispanic students gain access to a quality higher 
                education. These institutions play an essential role in 
                equipping students with the skills necessary to thrive 
                in the 21st century. Graduates of HSIs are leaders in 
                science, technology, engineering, and math--fields that 
                are crucial to America's competitiveness in an 
                increasingly global economy. As hubs of research and 
                innovation, they are integral to helping us achieve our 
                goal of having the highest proportion of college 
                graduates in the world by 2020.

                Last year, I renewed and enhanced the White House 
                Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics to 
                improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students from 
                pre-school through higher education and adult 
                education. We are working to expand access to pre-
                kindergarten programs and reduce high school drop-out 
                rates for Hispanic students, while recruiting more 
                Hispanic teachers and school leaders. Building on this 
                foundation, we are committed to strengthening the 
                capacity of HSIs and other higher education 
                institutions serving Hispanic students to provide the 
                best education possible.

                This week, as we celebrate the immeasurable 
                contributions HSIs have made to our Nation, we are 
                reminded that in this new century, America will only be 
                as strong as the opportunities we provide to all our 
                people. Our future is inextricably tied to the future 
                of the Hispanic community, and by working to strengthen 
                HSIs, we will secure a brighter tomorrow for our 
                children, helping them reach for the dream that has 
                come to define our Nation.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through 
                September 24, 2011, as National Hispanic-Serving 
                Institutions Week. I call on public officials, 
                educators, and all the people of the United States to 
                observe this week with appropriate programs, 
                ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the 
                tremendous contributions these institutions and their 
                graduates have made to our country.

[[Page 59500]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-first day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                sixth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2011-24888
Filed 9-23-11; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P