SPC recognized in resolution celebrating 30 years of HACU’S HNIP

Source: menendez.senate.gov

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founders and co-chairs of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Senate Caucus, alongside Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) unveiled a bipartisan resolution recognizing the 30th anniversary since the founding of the Hispanic National Internship Program (HNIP), a seminal program of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) known for promoting and celebrating Latino excellence and creating greater career development opportunities for Latino and Hispanic students across the country.

For 30 years, HNIP has helped provide federal and private internship opportunities to Latinos and underrepresented students attending Hispanic-serving institutions and other institutions of higher education. There are 569 Hispanic-Serving Institutions found in 185 congressional districts across 28 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

St. Philip’s College received HSI designation in 1995 and today serves primarily Hispanic students, 61.6% (F2021). As an HSI, SPC takes part in HNIP which places over 500 Hispanic and underrepresented students in Federal agencies each year. As one of the oldest and most diverse community colleges in the Nation -- with a mission to empower a diverse student population through educational achievement and career readiness -- St. Philip's College partners with community and industry professionals to collaboratively develop positive social innovations that expand access, opportunity, and economic empowerment. The college recently announced its partnership with Google in the Grow with Google Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Career Readiness Program. The initiative will help Latino students at more than 20 HSIs prepare for the workforce through digital skills training and career workshops. Through a $2 million investment in the HACU association, Grow with Google will train 200,000 Latino students by 2025.

Since its founding in 1898, the college has made a remarkable transformation influenced by the culture and ever-evolving history of the region. It has embraced its unique dual identity in being the only institution in the country to hold both HSI and HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) distinction. The college has earned the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (2018), Baldrige National Quality Award (2018), Texas Award Next for Performance Excellence (2020) and has been recognized as the top 10 most affordable HBCUs (Student Loan Hero) and one of the fastest-growing HBCUs (Business Journal ,2021).

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