Latina Engineering Student Prepares to Graduate with Help from Job Board Scholarship

Latpro.com and MAES have awarded Lillian Acosta, University of New Mexico senior, with a $2,500 Foundation Scholarship for her academic achievements and service to the Hispanic community.



FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - January 7, 2008 - Born in Mexico, Lillian Acosta came to the U.S. at the age of 10, and she is the first member of her family to attend college. After her graduation in December of 2008, she will join the professional workforce as an electrical engineer, entering a field where Hispanics, especially Hispanic women, are drastically under-represented.


Latpro.com, the premier job board for Hispanic and bilingual professionals, is proud to help Ms. Acosta attain her college degree by awarding her a $2,500 LatPro-MAES Foundation Scholarship for outstanding achievements in academics, leadership and community service. Ms. Acosta also received the first annual LatPro-MAES Scholarship in 2006 during her junior year at the University of New Mexico majoring in Electrical Engineering.


"I am so thankful to Latpro.com for awarding this scholarship to me again," Acosta said. "It brings me one step closer to graduation, which is not only my dream, but the dream of my parents."


In the meantime, she is focused on completing her studies and serving as president of the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization (HESO) at the University of New Mexico. In this role, she gives back to the community by encouraging Hispanic high school students not only to attend college, but also to pursue degrees in engineering and science related fields.


"Ms. Acosta is a wonderful role model for young Latinos, and we felt it was important to help provide the financial support necessary for her to complete her college degree," said Eric Shannon, President and Founder of Latpro.com. "It is our pleasure to award this scholarship to a young woman who embodies the spirit of higher education and will be a valuable addition to the professional community."



About Latpro.com
Established in 1997, LatPro is the worldwide leader in providing online employment resources for Hispanic and bilingual professionals. With over 315,000 registered candidates and 90 of the Fortune 100 companies using its award-winning service, the LatPro.com site (available in English, Spanish and Portuguese) is the premier career destination for Latino and bilingual professionals throughout the U.S. and Latin America.


LatPro Contact:
Vanessa Price
vprice@LatPro.com
(954) 302-7772



About The Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES)
MAES was founded in Los Angeles in 1974 by a group of professional engineers to advance and increase the number of Latinos, especially those of Mexican American descent, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. MAES awards academic scholarships each year with the goal of recognizing talented minority students, and helping them pursue their college degrees.


MAES Contact:
Keith Marrocco, Executive Director
execdir@maes-natl.org
(281) 557-3677