Hispanic Scholarship Fund Will Open HSF Scholar Program to All Students

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 50 years, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) has empowered students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, Scholars, and Alumni as possible. Since the very beginning, when Ernest and Dora Robles took out a $30,000 second mortgage on their home to found the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, HSF has, in the words of Mr. Robles, worked to "develop a coalition that would bring together diverse Hispanics to work on a clearly defined focus." HSF remains deeply committed to that vision and in service of building precisely the coalition that Ernest Robles articulated, HSF has expanded its programming beyond the HSF Scholar Program to include programs that are open to all students regardless of their ethnicity. For example, since [date], HSF has invited a diverse cohort of high-achieving, low-income, high school juniors to a free, college empowerment program through its Young Leaders Summit regardless of race or ethnicity.

Today, HSF takes another step towards building the kind of coalition that can support and advance the educational and economic attainment of Hispanic Americans. As of January 2027, the HSF Scholar Program will be open to all students regardless of their ethnicity. In lieu of an ethnicity requirement, the HSF Scholar Program will be open to students who demonstrate a commitment to supporting, celebrating, and advancing the success of Hispanics in the United States.

Undoubtedly, many are aware that HSF was sued in December 2025 by the American Alliance for Equal Rights for limiting the HSF Scholar Program to students of Hispanic Heritage. We also know that many of our Scholars, Alumni, and Sponsors will want to know whether we are making this change to the HSF Scholar Program because of that lawsuit. The short answer is no.

While changing the HSF Scholar Program criteria will end the lawsuit against HSF, HSF has been contemplating this change in the HSF Scholar Program long before that lawsuit was filed. HSF vigorously defended the lawsuit despite this pending change because we believed that it was important to vindicate the right of organizations like HSF to award scholarships and support to racially disadvantaged communities if it aligns with an organization's strategic vision. We believe that the district court's decision in September 2026 in our case did just that. While the decision likely would have required some changes to the way HSF implements the Scholar Program, we believe that the court made clear that scholarships for racially disadvantaged communities do not violate federal civil rights laws.

HSF is grateful to the attorneys at E.H. Williams II Law & Strategy PLLC; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; and the American Civil Liberties Union for standing with us in this fight.

About HSF
Founded in 1975, HSF empowers  courageous leaders with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete their chose path to a meaningful job and career, while providing support services and financial resources to as many students, participants, parents, HSF Scholars, and HSF Alumni as possible.

HSF strives to make college education a top priority for every family across the nation, mobilizing communities to proactively advance that goal—each individual, over a lifetime, in every way they can. HSF also seeks to give its Scholars all the tools they need to do well in their course work, graduate, enter, and excel in a profession, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As one of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations, HSF has awarded over $825 million in scholarships and provides a broad range of programs and support services for students, parents, HSF Scholars, and HSF Alumni. For more information about HSF, please visit HSF.net.

Media Contact:
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
8774734636
[email protected]
Website: HSF.net

SOURCE Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)