MARITZA MESTRE

ISABEL VAZQUEZ
Photo credits: 2008-09 Yearbook

URBANA — Seniors Maritza Mestre and Isabel Vazquez have been named National Hispanic Scholars in the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program.

According to the College Board, out of the approximately 200,000 students who apply, only about 5,000 are selected as National Hispanic Scholars.

Qualification is based on critical reading, mathematics, and writing skill scores on the PSAT/NMSQT.

The cutoff scores vary annually by state. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is also required.

To be eligible, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic and must designate themselves as Hispanic/Latino on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet.

"Although the NHRP does not provide a financial reward, being named is an important academic recognition," according to the College Board.

"The program sends a list of all recognized students to subscribing colleges and universities that are particularly interested in academically outstanding seniors of Hispanic/Latino heritage."

Since 1983 the National Hispanic Recognition Program has identified outstanding Hispanic high school students and shared information about them with subscribing colleges and universities.

In 2007, three members of the Class of 2008 were named National Hispanic Scholars: Thomas Bozada, Erin Hayes, and Michelle Mehnert.

For purposes of the NHRP, students must be from a family whose ancestors came from at least one of these countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela.