SACRAMENTO The Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has commended Drexel University, the Greater Sacramento areas newest university, for its commitment to the community and diversity.

As Drexel marks the one-year anniversary of its announcement that it would open a graduate studies center in Sacramento, the Chamber commended the university for making a great impact on the community in its first year here.

From day one, Drexel University and its leadership team have embraced the diversity that makes Sacramento a special city, said Nick Montoya, Chairman of the Chambers Board of Directors. We appreciate Drexels partnership with not only our organization, but with many diverse groups in the community.

Drexel and the Chamber co-sponsor a Hispanic leadership masters program, which provides full tuition for a masters degree to an emerging leader in the Hispanic community.

Drexel continues to demonstrate its commitment to diversity through its own diverse staff and faculty in Sacramento and through its community partnership like this leadership grant. We are pleased and honored to be continuing our partnership with Drexel, said Steve Gndola, President and CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Establishing the Hispanic Leadership Masters Grant is a real testament to Drexels commitment to diversity and to being an active member of our community.

Gloria Mirazo of Sacramento was awarded the inaugural Hispanic Leadership Masters Grant in December and was among the first group of students to attend classes in January at Drexels new graduate center at One Capitol Mall in downtown Sacramento. 

Mirazo, who received a bachelors degree from the University of California at Berkeley, is a sales manager for the mortgage division of Wells Fargo.  She continues to work fulltime while being enrolled as a business administration student at the Drexel Graduate Center, which allows individuals to continue to work and complete a full MBA program with its flexible, evening class schedule.

A panel of Hispanic business leaders will review grant applications, meet with finalists, and award the grant. All materials related to the application process must be received by July 31, 2009. Applications will be open to qualified candidates living in Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, Sutter, Placer, El Dorado, or Yuba counties.

For more information or to apply for the masters grant, please visit the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce web site at www.sachcc.org or call Celia Cortez at (916) 486-7700.