November 03, 2004 —

 A leading organization aimed at encouraging Hispanic Americans to pursue careers in engineering has honored the USC Viterbi School of Engineering for its efforts in the area.
HENAAC, the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation, singled out the USC Viterbi School for the “Highest Southern California Recruitment Increase of Hispanic Engineering Freshman” at its October 8 Conference in Pasadena, California.

The USC Viterbi School was one of four schools honored, “selected from a large number of university programs nationwide that focus on promoting educational and career opportunities for Hispanic engineering students, and actively partner with The Boeing Company.”

“We have been making vigorous efforts to recruit and retain young Hispanics in our program.  We are gratified with our success and with HENAAC's recognition,” said Dean C.L. Max Nikias. “This is strong encouragement to do more."

Ranked #3 nationally among private research university schools of Engineering, the USC Viterbi School has shown a commitment to increasing Hispanic enrollment through an extensive program of pre-college programs, and supporting enrolled freshman in its Center for Engineering Diversity.

The Stanford University School of Engineering, the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez School of Engineering, and California State University Long Beach’s College of Engineering were the other institutions singled out.

Established in 1989 as a means of identifying, honoring, and documenting the contributions of outstanding Hispanic American science, engineering, technology and math professionals, HENAAC’s mission is “to enlighten our nation about the achievements of Hispanics in engineering, science, technology, and math; to motivate and educate more students to pursue careers in these fields; to increase the role the Hispanic community plays in maintaining America’s status as the world’s technology leader.”