The National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Líderes Initiative is a national program designed to create opportunities for Latino youth that will elevate their influence as leaders in the United States.

2007 NCLR - Best Buy Winners

The NCLR-Best Buy Emerging Latino Leaders Scholarship Program essay contest recognizes young Latino leaders who are making a difference in their communities. Last week, ten scholarship winners were selected from more than 180 applications nationwide. The two grand prize winners, Victor Manuel Rodriguez (Washington, DC) and Isaura Jimenez (SeaTac, Washington), will receive a one-time payment of $10,000. Frissia Sanchez, Eduardo Garnica, and Jose De La Paz (Chicago, Illinois) will each receive a one-time payment of $5,000. Rebecca Espinoza (Miami, Florida), Rogelio Dorantes (Phoenix, Arizona), Paula Rangel (Tucson, Arizona), Mara Cuevas (Chicago, Illinois), Brittni Hernandez (Greely, Colorado), and Carlos Galicia (Alexandria, Virginia) will each receive a one-time payment of $1,000.

NCLR will also award 15 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for essays written by youth enrolled in charter schools affiliated with NCLR and the AmeriCorps Latinos Engaged in National Service (LENS) Program and provide a $500 scholarship to each of the 90 graduates of the NCLR Escalera Program. Contest participants attending an NCLR school or participating in AmeriCorps are also eligible for the grand prizes.

“We believe programs that provide well-rounded experiences for teens ultimately help them contribute to their communities and maximize their education,” said Paula Prahl, vice president of public affairs for Best Buy Co., Inc. “Because of that, we are proud to support National Council of La Raza and the Emerging Latino Leaders Scholarship Program, and congratulate the Líderes Network winners.”