Awards Night for Youth
Awards Night for 2020 is postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Círculo de la Hispanidad founded Awards Night over thirty years ago in response to the dismal graduation rate of Hispanic students in Long Beach.
The concept of Awards Night is to recognize the achievements of youth including academic success as well as effort as a way to support and recognize youth at all levels from elementary school through high school. Also we have honored immigrant students in the bilingual and dual-language programs including non-Hispanics.
What has happened over the past thirty years has been a shift of culture where excellence is expected of students and the children and their families look for the Awards Night celebration to honor their achievements both academic and through effort.
Scholarships:
Círculo asks the school district Principals to submit names of students every year for its Awards Night ceremony. Students are selected based upon academic achievement as well as effort. Círculo also recognizes non-Hispanic students including students in the Dual Language Program, and Language Department who have excelled or showed great effort. Over two hundred students are recognized each year.
Awards Night is also a celebration of the students that have been awarded a scholarship through Círculo de la Hispanidad. Each year Círculo accepts applications from students in Long Beach and Hempstead High School (where its offices are based) for scholarships for those accepted to college. The agency has a committee of volunteers from the schools, Círculo’s Board Members and others that uses special criteria to select applicants. Criteria includes volunteer work as well as effort and academic achievement.