Actress Gina Rodriguez Joins Hispanic Scholarship Fund Board of Directors

LOS ANGELES, March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation's largest not-for-profit supporting Hispanic American higher education, today announced the addition of Golden Globe winner actress Gina Rodriguez, to its Board of Directors effective immediately.  An HSF Scholarship recipient herself, Ms. Rodriguez brings a unique, personal perspective to the organization's cross-industry board, led by James McNamara, Founder and Chairman of Panamax Films LLC.  

Ms. Rodriguez claimed her 2015 Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, after being named the "next big thing" and one of the "top 35 Latinos under 35," by The Hollywood Reporter.  The Los Angeles Times referred to her as "forthright and formidable, a festival ingenue who deserves to be discussed in the same breath as Elizabeth Olsen and Jennifer Lawrence."  Gina currently plays the title role of the CW series, "Jane the Virgin," which won AFI and People's Choice awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

 Born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents, Ms. Rodriguez started performing at age seven. Despite being confident in her career path, she pursued a higher education, attending Columbia University and graduating from New York University.  "Education was number one in my household, and I was determined to pursue a degree," Gina said.  "Receiving an HSF Scholarship helped make that possible. One of my sisters is an investment banker, and the other a doctor.  Both are also HSF Alumni.  Serving on HSF's board is a great opportunity to say thank you and to help open doors for the Latino students to follow.  I wish I could tell every one of them how much my college education means to me," she added. 

"As HSF Alumni and long-time supporters of the Latino community, Gina and her sisters have shown the world that Latinos can, and should, aim for the top to achieve their goals.  They also demonstrate that in today's time, a college education is essential, regardless of your chosen profession," said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  "We are so proud of Gina's extraordinary achievements and look forward to her insight and support, as we help shape the future of our country through outstanding young leaders like her."

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible.  HSF strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation, mobilizing our community to proactively advance that goal – each individual, over a lifetime, in every way he/she can. HSF seeks to give its Scholars all the tools they need to do well in their course work, graduate, enter a profession, excel, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come.  As the nation's largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, the Fund has awarded over $470 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, HSF Scholars, Alumni, and parents.  For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit: HSF.net. 

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SOURCE Hispanic Scholarship Fund

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http://www.hsf.net