Myra Blanco inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Hall of Fame

Myra Blanco, research scientist at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) was honored last week as she was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Hall of Fame. The event was held in Washington, D.C. Oct. 5.

She has been with VTTI for approximately seven years and her current research involves active safety warning systems prioritization and integration, human information processing, driving behavior for innovative in-vehicle systems, and driver workload assessment methods. Blanco received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, and her master’s degree and her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. She attributes her success in receiving her Ph.D. to her mother’s perseverance and her countless sacrifices as a single parent.

During the past 30 years, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education, has provided more than 73,000 scholarships to Latino students totaling $170 million. This year, HSF celebrates three decades of giving by inducting five Hispanic leaders, including four former HSF scholars, into its Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Alumni Hall of Fame was established to create role models for future generations of Hispanic college students, illustrating the possibilities offered by higher education and the mission and values of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. This year's inductees were recognized for their achievements in business, education, science and research fields.

"We are proud to have provided scholarships for the past 30 years to deserving students, many of whom are first in their family to attend college," said Sara Martinez Tucker, president and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. "This year's HSF Alumni Hall of Fame event marks the incredible journey made by HSF, our inductees and our scholars, and to inspire others to seek an education."

The 2005 class joins the outstanding honorees of the previous three years, including The Hon. Antonio Garza, Jr., U.S. ambassador to Mexico (2004 honoree); The Hon. Alberto Gonzalez, counsel to the President of the United States (2003 honoree); Lisa Quiroz, founder of People en Español (2002 honoree); and Richard Carmona, surgeon general of the United States (2002 honoree).