Youth Awards (HHF) (Latino students)

The Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards, established in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), honor Latino high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and community. The program recognizes students in various categories and provides grants to support their educational endeavors or community service projects.

🎯 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Youth Awards, applicants must:

  • Grade Level: Be currently enrolled in high school and graduating in the spring of 2025.

  • GPA: Maintain a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 7.5 on a 10.0 scale.

  • College Enrollment: Plan to enroll at an accredited higher education institution in the 2025–2026 academic year.

  • Heritage: Be of Hispanic heritage, including ancestry from Latin America, Spain, Brazil, or the Philippines.

  • Residency: Be a legal resident of the United States, including all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Ceremony Attendance: If selected, attendance at the virtual regional awards ceremony is mandatory.

Note: The 2024 application period has concluded. The deadline for the 2025 application cycle is expected to be in early November 2025.

🏆 Award Categories

The Youth Awards recognize students in the following categories:

  • Community Service

  • Education

  • Engineering

  • Entrepreneurship & Business

  • Green Sustainability

  • Healthcare & Science

  • Media & Entertainment

  • Public Service & Social Justice

  • Technology

Gold, Silver, and Bronze recipients are selected in each category and receive a one-time grant to fund their college education or to support a community service effort that addresses a social issue.

🌐 Application Process

  • Application Portal: Applications are submitted online through the HHF Youth Awards portal.

  • Required Materials: Applicants must provide academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement detailing their achievements and aspirations.

  • Selection Process: Recipients are selected based on academic performance, community involvement, leadership qualities, and alignment with the award categories.

🌟 Additional Opportunities

Recipients of the Youth Awards are invited to join the Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) network, which connects them with over 300,000 students and young professionals. LOFT offers access to mentors, resources, networking opportunities, workshops, internships, and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies.

For more information and to apply, visit the official Youth Awards website: Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards