José E. Serrano: “it with great pride that I rise to recognize the extensive contributions of Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The…”

“it with great pride that I rise to recognize the extensive contributions of Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The opportunity to go to college is one that many Americans take for granted because it has become an accepted norm for many families in our society. For too many Hispanic families, however, it is not the norm and for many it is even seen as an unattainable reality. The increase and development of HSIs is significantly changing that, however. At this very moment, nearly half a million Hispanic youth are studying at these 219 exceptional institutions and realizing the dreams of their grandparents. These young people will become critical actors in many parts of our society and will hopefully lead and inspire the next generation of Hispanic-Americans, so that going to college will become a norm, and not a rare privilege in our community. With steadfast support and dedication to the proliferation of HSIs, Hispanic parents attending their son's or daughter's college graduation will become a customary occurrence. An education revolution is necessary in this country for Hispanic and African-American youth to catch up to their peers. The key to increasing college enrollment for these communities lies in the reformation of elementary and secondary schools, where overcrowded classrooms, under-trained educators, limited resources, and social risk factors make academic success a near impossibility.…”