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Ram Truck Brand and The Chrysler Foundation Award $50,000 Grant to Support Outstanding Latino Students

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The Ram Truck brand and The Chrysler Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest provider of college financial aid for Latino students.

by Staff
June 1, 2012
2 min to read


SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The Ram Truck brand and The Chrysler Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest provider of college financial aid for Latino students. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund/Chrysler Scholarship Program is designed to support outstanding Latino undergraduate or graduate students interested in a career in the automotive industry.

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The grant was announced by Fred Diaz, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC, during the International Hispanic Network’s gala and awards ceremony in San Antonio.

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“I believe what has anchored me through the ups and downs at Chrysler are my roots,” Diaz told the audience. “Despite being somewhat underprivileged in my younger years, I have very fond memories of growing up in a warm, close-knit, densely populated Hispanic community where everyone looked out for each other, respected one another, and where humility was and continues to be a cherished value.”

Diaz reminisced about growing up in San Antonio during his address, and how his mother influenced his passion and dedication towards making his hometown a better place. As a result, Diaz directs his yearly donations to the United Way of San Antonio in support of education, and women and children’s shelters.

“As a Latino, I am doubly proud that my company has a strong commitment to diversity and multiculturalism,” Diaz said.

In December 2011, Diaz announced a similar $50,000 grant to HSF during the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fiesta Hispana Gala in Dearborn, Mich. The newly announced Hispanic Scholarship Fund/Chrysler Scholarship Program continues a longstanding relationship between The Chrysler Foundation and HSF, which began in 1986. Since that time, HSF has received 26 grants from the Foundation totaling more than $800,000; with the last $100,000 being announced in the past six months.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
• Be of Hispanic heritage.
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a permanent resident card or passport I-551 (not expired).
• Be pursuing their first undergraduate or graduate degree.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a current sophomore, junior, or senior at a four-year accredited institution in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam during the 2011-12 academic year.
• Be majoring in: mechanical, electrical or industrial engineering at an accredited Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) program; computer science, computer engineering, business or management with a concentration in computer science or management information systems; business or economics from an accredited school with one or more of the following disciplines preferred: supply chain management, finance, international business, accounting, general business or entrepreneurship.

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