Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards

Founded in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), the Youth Awards honor high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community, in categories including Community Service, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Green (more categories are added during the awards season). Gold, Silver, and Bronze recipients are selected in each category, and recipients join HHF’s Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) network.

Award: a one-time grant of up to $4,000, depending on the category, to use for college or to fund a community service project that tackles a social issue. Applying also enters you in Colgate-Palmolive’s Haz La U program (31 grants, $100,000 in total).

Eligibility:

• High school seniors graduating in spring 2027 (home-schooled students and GED students under 21 can also apply)
• Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Must enroll at an accredited college in 2027–28
• Must live in the U.S. or a U.S. territory
• Recipients must attend a virtual awards ceremony (February/March)

How to apply: apply online at hhfyouthawards.com by November 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT. A complete application includes the online application with essays, one letter of recommendation, and a school transcript (official or unofficial), which recommenders and schools can upload directly. You can apply to more than one category. Recipients are notified in January.