Community Beat

            Don’t procrastinate.  There’s still time to apply to the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ, Inc.’s (HBCSF) 2012 annual scholarship and stipend awards program.  Applications are being accepted now for the Foundation’s scholarships and stipends for course-required materials for current college and college-bound students and those planning to attend a trade (technical) school during the 2012-2013 academic year. 

2012 Season

            Open to all New Jersey residents of Hispanic heritage, information about the program and the current, downloadable application are available at www.hbcsf.org.  Applications and all required information must be postmarked by Wednesday, February 29, 2012.  HBCSF will award a minimum of $40,000 in scholarships and stipends.  Scholarships up to $4,000 each will be disbursed directly to the college or university of the student's choice during the 2012-2013 school term. 

            A student must enroll full-time at an accredited college, university, community college or trade (technical) school in the United States and maintain a 3.0 grade point average.  In addition to tuition scholarships, HBCSF also awards $1,000 stipends for course-required materials, such as books, laboratory equipment, and other supplies. Upon acceptance into the program, scholarship recipients will be required to complete 80 hours of community service between June 2012 and June 2013.  Frequently asked questions are available on-line and may be downloaded.

         Interviews and the final award selection will be completed by the end of March. All the award recipients will be announced and the scholarship students will be   presented at the Foundation’s 21^st Annual Scholarship Gala to be held again at The Estate at Florentine Gardens in River Vale, New Jersey on Thursday, May 3, 2012.  The annual gala serves as the major fund-raiser for the HBCSF.  Donations are welcome and may be made online at www.hbcsf.org, or sent to HBCSF, 429C Cedar Lane #313, Teaneck, New Jersey 07666. 

Making a Difference

            For 21 years, the Foundation has advanced the educational aspirations of Hispanic students in New Jersey to become professionals, leaders, and valued citizens of the community.  HBCSF, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization based in Bergen County, New Jersey, accomplishes this by providing scholarships and stipends for a college education based on academic excellence and financial need.  The Foundation has awarded $325,500 to 120 recipients throughout the state.

Corporate Sponsors

            Corporate sponsors are critical to supporting the organization’s annual scholarship and stipend awards program.   Sponsors instrumental in providing funding for this year’s program are Wells Fargo Private Bank, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Berkeley College, “PIX11 and Tribune Broadcasting”, Quixote Dunes, Inc., Unilever and Verizon.  Additional sponsors are Booz | Allen | Hamilton, New Jersey Accounting Services, Inc., haute couture designer Nicolás Felizola, "Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation" represented by the Hispanic Leadership Network, Prudential, and PSE&G.
             To learn more about the 2012 scholarship and stipend application or previous scholarship and stipend recipients, visit www.hbcsf.org.  Inquiries may be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .