Thank you, Sara, for that very kind introduction. I know the Scholarship Fund will miss your leadership. You've done so much for the organization, and for young people around the country.
I look forward to working with you in Washington, once the U.S. Senate agrees to what we all know -- that you're the best person to be the next Undersecretary of Education! To the newest members of the Alumni Hall of Fame and to their families, this is your night!! Congratulations! All of you make us proud to be Hispanic Americans. In fact, you would make any American proud to be living in this great country of ours. Your stories are very compelling.
Virtually all of us are immigrants or descendents of immigrants. Most of us here tonight have a life story to tell.
My story is like many of yours. I came with my family from Cuba when I was six. We worked hard, learned English, and benefited from the power of freedom.
I was very fortunate to have many people help me along the way. Some were role models like the people we're honoring tonight.
So, thank you to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund for your leadership in helping young people and parents get an education, for giving them direction, for helping them along the way.
Yours is a vital mission. You are providing opportunity to Hispanic Americans. And in so doing, you are making our country stronger and more productive.
Your mission is all the more vital today because of the demographics of the country.
Rising role of Hispanic community Hispanic Americans are playing an ever-expanding role in setting the direction of our country.
America's immigrants are growing younger.
Nine years ago you awarded $3.5 million in scholarships. Today the number has exploded to more than $25 million. You have students in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam who have attended over 1,700 colleges and universities.
President Bush's administration is also providing extensive support to Hispanic-serving institutions. Nearly $95 million is going to support post-secondary schools that serve large percentages of Hispanic American students.
Picking up the pace But we can't be satisfied; we still have a lot of work to do.
Strong, growing economy And this is a great time to be able to make a contribution to the economy and to the nation. Our economy is performing better than it has in many years, creating jobs and substantial wealth.
It's truly remarkable how well we've done. We have faced so many challenges in the past five years alone, and confronted them successfully: The English, Irish, Germans, Poles, Italians, Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and countless others, they've all come. And all have made their mark. All have made a significant difference.
Today, it's our turn. This is our time. There is a new wave sweeping the nation that will be known as the great Hispanic Immigration Wave. Many of you here tonight are part of this new wave, while some of us came before.
This wave brings great opportunity. And it will bring new energy and vitality to the country.
But it also bears great responsibility. Like all the others who have come before us, we need to commit to making a better society. We need to do our part, become part of the mainstream, and love this country.
And we need to do it with a great deal of passion.
Think about the five people we're honoring tonight.
Look at what they've achieved in their careers. One is a teacher. Two are university professors. One is a brain surgeon and a university professor. And one is a business executive. All of them had to struggle, to overcome challenges.
Look at what they're giving back to their families and communities. One founded a school of the arts for minorities, another is teaching in the inner city. Others are educating the next generation coming up. All are giving back. All are leaders.
And these are great leaders because they believe in something bigger than themselves. They believe in a cause.
So tonight, I appeal to you: Be leaders. Believe in this great country. Be an active part of it. Make it stronger. Make it even better.
I know we can do that.
Thank you very much. And God bless.
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Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
