(Source: PRNewswire)WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine today confirmed that he will introduce Mauricio Ayala as the student keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Hispanic College Fund Scholarship Awards Gala on October 17, 2008, at the J.W. Marriott. Governor Kaine will recognize Ayala as a Latino role model who inspires students and scholarship sponsors from across the nation.

Ayala emigrated from El Salvador six years ago. Having transitioned from English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to advanced courses, he is currently a first year at the University of Virginia. He received a Hispanic College Fund Scholarship in 2008 and was recently notified that he was selected to participate in Hispanic Young Professionals -- a highly competitive leadership development program held in D.C. that precedes the gala -- and that he was chosen as the student keynote speaker.

"Personal and professional success have always been a priority in my life," said Ayala. "Opportunities are the means by which I have achieved my aspirations, and it is because of people like Governor Kaine that opportunities exist. I truly thank the Governor for making Virginia a community where I can pursue and achieve my dreams!"

"Out of more than 600 Hispanic College Fund Scholars in 2008, we were only able to select one student to speak at our gala," said Rosa Castillo, volunteer and alumni program manager and member of the keynote speaker selection committee. "Mauricio is someone whose passion to give back to the community is apparent in all his academic and extracurricular endeavors. It is an honor to have Governor Kaine highlight how important it is to invest in students like Mauricio."

Major sponsors of the gala include the Chrysler Foundation, Kaiser Foundation Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., Linden Development, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Sodexo, Inc., Ford Motor Company, the Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, General Dynamics Corporation, Google, Marriott International, Inc., MasterCard Worldwide, Mutual of America, the Tower Companies, the Verizon Foundation, and Denny's.

Sodexo, Inc. will be honored as Corporation of the Year for its support of the Hispanic College Fund and the National Nuclear Security Administration will receive the Legacy Award for its commitment to diversity. Five hundred people are expected to attend the black tie event. To inquire about purchasing last-minute tickets, contact Vicmar Paz Morales at vicmar@hispanicfund.org .

About the Hispanic College Fund

Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund is a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

The Hispanic College Fund has an annual budget of $6 million with 20 full-time employees. In 2006, the Hispanic College Fund received the Brillante award for "Nonprofit of the Year" from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and in 2007 was recognized by USA Today as one of the nation's top 25 charities.

Website: http://www.hispanicfund.org/

Hispanic College Fund

CONTACT: Lisa Sandoval of Hispanic College Fund, +1-202-296-5400 ext.117, lsandoval@hispanicfund.org

Web Site: http://www.hispanicfund.org/