Dr. Richard Zapanta was honored with the 2012 USC Latino Alumni Association Legacy Award. Erica Suzanne Silva (B.A. ’12) received the Dr. John R. Hubbard Award and Michelle Munoz (M.D. ’12) received the Dr. Edward Zapanta Outstanding Medical Student Award.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (MPA 1981), surprised the audience when Ruben Smith, chair of the Corporate Advisory Council introduced her.

She said to Dr. Zapanta and his wife, Rebecca, “Finally, I have to say thank you – 14 million ‘thank yous’ – to the USC Latino Alumni Association for what you’re doing. I’m absolutely blown away to learn that this organization has raised $14 million to help Latino youth pursue their education. It’s caring folks like you who made my story possible.”

USC Trustee Frank Cruz presented Zapanta with the Legacy Award. Zapanta recalled the first scholarship dinner held at Town and Gown in 1974. “We raised $16,000 that evening and with the university matching us two-to-one, our total was $48,000,” he said. “Dr. Hubbard always said how proud he was of that decision to match our fundraising and since his passing, his legacy lives in with the annual recognition of one of our outstanding scholars.”

Dr. Zapanta earned his B.A. in psychology from USC in 1954 and completed his M.D. at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 1973. He completed his post graduate training at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. He has been in private practice since 1979 and is the senior partner at Eastside Orthopedic Medical Associates and Plaza Surgical Center.

Dr. Zapanta with his wife, Rebecca annually give a scholarship to a deserving Garfield High School student and sponsor a student from the Keck School of Medicine at USC of USC MedCor Summer Work Program.

His brother, the late Dr. Edward Zapanta was the first Latino appointed to the USC Board of Trustees in 1984.

“My proudest achievement is the founding of the USC Mexican American Alumni Association that now continues as the USC Latino Alumni Association,” Zapanta said. “I’m honored to have played a small role in the support and nurturing of our Latino students.”

Jovana Lara of ABC7 Eyewitness News was the mistress of ceremonies and Father Lawrence Seyer, pastor of Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center said the invocation.

About the USC Latino Alumni Association:
The USC Latino Alumni Association is a legacy of the USC Mexican American Alumni Association that was founded in 1973 to develop programs that provide tuition assistance grants to students attending USC who show a commitment to the Latino community. Since then, the USC Latino Alumni Association has awarded over $14 million in scholarships to more than 7,000 deserving students. For more information please visit: http://www.usc.edu/latinoalumni .

News Source: USC Latino Alumni Association :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Fischer said, “California, is home to Silicon Valley, and the world’s largest technology corporations, like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter, and yet millions of California’s most precious assets – its children, are without access to technology.”

The digital divide separates predominantly white, middle class students, from predominantly minority, lower income students. While California schools are becoming more connected, home computers, and access to Internet are still out of reach for many.

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 32 percent of Spanish-dominate Hispanics use the Internet, as compared to 76 percent of bilingual Hispanics. Fischer cited key barriers including Internet access, affordability, education and social equity. Perceptions that computers are too complicated, and a lack of understanding as to how to get started, are nearly as important as access, and cost barriers.

“Should we, in good conscious produce such abundant technology in California, and yet be so ambivalent about our youth, and our neediest families?” Fischer asked calmly, and emphatically. “If conscious does not motivate us to action, we will continue to pay for our neglect.”

Overall, one out of every four students in California quit school. Parents, who dropout are more likely to have children who dropout. Generational dropout leads to generational poverty. Youth who drop out of high school are unlikely to have the minimum skills required to participate in today’s increasingly technology dependent society.

Innovative new companies, offer promise to help bridge the digital divide, and provide real hope for students. TVtextbook, is one such company. At a fraction of the cost of a computer, or tablet, it turns any television into an interactive learning station. TVtextbook connects school-to-home, and provides 100 percent access to all students, regardless of their connectivity, or geographic location. Simple solutions like this one, can be a powerful catalyst to help California schools close the achievement gap.

One California Latino parent conveyed their family’s experience, “We don’t have a computer or a game console at home. My son spends more time doing homework on TVtextbook because he is excited to have technology. I usually feel uncomfortable helping with homework, because the language is hard for me, but having his homework on TV, made me feel like I could support my son, just by sitting beside him in our living room. Our relationship is stronger. And, he feels better about school, and even himself. He is learning more.”

The digital divide is not just about policy. It’s about people. Fischer plans to host a summit on The Digital Divide and Solutions For California Families, in Summer, 2012.

Cyndi Fischer is a media and technology business management consultant to TVtextbook. She is also publisher of Family Literacy Journal (www.familyliteracyjournal.com).

For information, contact her at cfischer[at]tvtextbook.com .

- Photo Caption: Cyndi Fischer, Business Management Consultant, TVtextbook, and Publisher of Family Literacy Journal.

News Source: Cyndi Fischer :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Mar. 16 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Today LTC Financial Partners LLC, the nation’s most experienced long term care insurance brokerage, announced a campaign to bring long term care protection to members of America’s second-largest ethnic group, Hispanics. “Our Hispanic citizens, like everyone else, need long term care insurance,” says Cameron Truesdell, CEO, “but if you’re not fluent in English, it’s hard to understand the benefits and options.” So Truesdell’s organization has started to translate its literature into Spanish.

The first item to be available is “Dignidad por la Vida: Hechos que Pueden Proteger sus Bienes y su Calidad de Vida,” a Spanish version of the popular guidebook, “Dignity for Life: Facts That Can Protect Your Assets & Quality of Life.”

*(Photo Caption: LTC Financial CEO Cameron Truesdell.)

Its contents draws upon the combined experience of the organization’s 250-plus state-licensed field underwriters, experts in the intricacies of long term care insurance in all its health, financial, and lifestyle dimensions.

The guidebook covers critical issues such as -

* Who tends to need long term care and why,

* Alternative ways of paying for care,

* How to choose the right policy from a sound carrier, and

* How to take advantage of the new LTC-related tax breaks.

The Spanish guidebook, along with the English version, may be requested free of charge at www.ltchotline.com/literature.html.

Thanks to immigration and high birth rates, the Hispanic population is growing rapidly. According to U. S. Census Bureau projections, 24.4 percent of Americans will be Hispanic by mid-century, up from 12.6 percent in 2000. Non-Hispanic whites will make up only 50% of the population, down from 69.4 percent in 2000.

“We are gearing up to serve this burgeoning segment,” says Truesdell. “Federal and state government just can’t finance long term care for all our longer-living citizens. We need to help everyone understand they’ve got to provide for their own care.”

Text provided by an agency, EraNova Institute, on behalf of the news source.

News Source: LTC Financial Partners LLC :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.