Sept. 1, 2010 - The CSUB Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund (HESF) will recognize 65 academically excellent students with scholarships totaling more than $100,000 at the 27th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at The Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, Bakersfield. A social hour begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $60.

This year's dinner features Moctesuma Esparza, CEO of Maya Cinemas North America, as the keynote speaker. A past California State University system trustee, he is an award-winning filmmaker, producer and entertainment industry executive. His honors include an Academy Award nomination, an Emmy, a Clio, and a Cine Eagle award. A partner of Esparza-Katz Productions, his production credits include "The Milagro Beanfield War" (1988) directed by Robert Redford, "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" (1982) for PBS, and "Selena" (1997). He was named one of the 50 "Most Powerful and Influential Latinos" of 2008 by The Imagen Foundation.

Since its inception in 1984, HESF has helped build a tradition of excellence at CSUB by increasing access to a college education for academically excellent, underrepresented students who demonstrate leadership. The Fund has supported more than 1,300 outstanding students with scholarships totaling more than $2.4 million. Many of the students are among the first generation of their families to attend college.

Dr. Thomas Martínez, Chair of the Public Administration Department at CSUB, said the scholarship program has been very successful. "Due to the growing support of local businesses and individuals, the CSUB President's Scholarship Matching Program, and endowment collaboration with the national Hispanic Scholarship Fund, our scholarship fund has become one of the premier scholarship programs of its kind," he said.

The HESF Advisory Board is comprised of local business, education, and community leaders. Supporters of this event include Chevron, State Farm Insurance, Sempra Energy, Univision, and Bright House Networks.

For tickets to the dinner, call Gloria Castaneda at (661) 654-2282 or visit www.csub.edu/hesf. For more information about the Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund, contact Dr. Thomas Martinez at (661) 654-3064.