by: E. Richard Walton, an Upstate journalist/editor + member of the board of directors at the Hispanic Alliance

Aware that Hispanics are really impacting America, Clemson University and Michelin North America contributed to the 2018 scholarship fund sponsored by Greenville's Hispanic American Women's Association.
AHAM volunteers work at Upstate festivals like Artisphere and Fall for Greenville, raising cash and awareness of its fund. These women are the backbone of Greenville's Latin middle class. Many are college graduates.

Last month, AHAM awarded $15,000 to six Hispanics-- three males, three females-- who graduated from Upstate high schools.

Since about 1998, AHAM has given $307,000 for more than 120 Hispanic students (All recipients are legal; some are Dreamers.)

Julio Hernandez, Clemson's associate director of Hispanic outreach, said the university is matching AHAM awards for two students who are attending Clemson.

"We want to make sure that our Hispanic community knows that we are committed to supporting their efforts in obtaining an education," he said at the ceremony May 16.

Students Richard Garcia of Riverside High and Jose Daniel Rodriquez of Carolina High both say they are going to Tigerville.

Rodrigo Gutierrez of Michelin said at the ceremony that he wasn't informed of the exact amount, but the tire giant was contributing. He said that Michelin is a key player in diversity, and recruits Hispanics.

In the past, Upstate schools such the University of South Carolina Upstate, Greenville Tech and its Foundation and Furman University all have supported AHAM or its scholarship fund.

For some, it's the right thing to do:

Blue-chip corporations and colleges of every stripe are savvy to Latin issues, and the importance of having Hispanics on campus. They displaced African Americans as the nation's largest minority group several years ago.

Most are aware of Latins:

The typical American might enjoy a Latin-inspired meal, hear the Spanish language spoken close to home or might aspire to learn how to Salsa.

In the spirit of diversity, Clemson – along with several Upstate colleges and entities – have full-blown programs (Clemson has the Men of Color National Summit, 2017-18, another scheduled for 2019. The city of Greenville and County of Greenville have contributed cash to the Summit). Furman University hired a chief diversity officer last July, Dr. Michael Jennings.

This year's other AHAM awardees are: Diana Hoyos-Lopez of Carolina High, who heads to Wingate University; Oscar Antonio Guillen of Southside High, who heads to Furman; Pamela Mariah Painter of Gaffney High, who heads to the College of Charleston and Karol (cq) Valentina Gil if Greenville High, who heads to Greenville Tech.

AHAM has a new president in Sara Montero-Buria, who works part-time for the Hispanic Alliance.

She helped attract additional scholarship applications this year by urging that the scholarships application be put online.

As a result, Lissette Treanor, AHAM's scholarship chairperson, said almost 80 candidates submitted applications this year. It's a higher submission rate than usual, which is about 30.

In prior years, AHAM depended on high school guidance counselors and educators, plus word of mouth and Facebook.

AHAM's biggest fundraiser of the year is its Scholarship gala, which is usually held in the fall at Embassy Suites.

Yes, there's dinner and Salsa.