History
Our Story
Left to right: Ed Peña, LULAC National President, 1978–1979; Lee J. Leyba, NM State LULAC Director; Leo Cardenas, VP, Southwest; Rudy Beserra, NM State Director, LULAC Educational Service Centers
Photo Credit: LULAC News, Jan. 1979
LNESC’s rich history began with the vision of LULAC Council 2008 from San Francisco.
In 1970, the council noted that postsecondary schools in their region had developed special ethnic studies and admission programs did not allocate resources for Latinos. To address need for educational resources, the council rented a storefront in the Mission District and began to provide structured counseling to help Hispanic students achieve their educational goals. This was led by volunteers and catalyzed the LNESC legacy of empowerment we proudly reflect and build on today.
With the help of the University of California, the communities it served began to thrive and the center began to grow.
By 1971, the center was known as El Colegio de la Mision de LULAC and began to offer courses for credit through partnerships local community colleges.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized the benefit of empower students through counselling programs, as helped build a resilient labor force.
This catalysed a $2 million grant from the U.S. government in 1973 and allowed LNESC to scale its impact.
LNESC incorporated entity with its own governing board and independently leading highly successful educational programming, leadership curricula, scholarships, and more!
Our Programs
Over the past 50 years, LNESC has expanded its footprint to include field centers in Colorado, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Texas, and beyond.
You can explore our 16 LNESC Centers here.
You can explore our 16 LNESC Centers here.
LNESC Education Centers offer diverse programs for students of all ages. This includes Young Readers, an initiative assisting elementary students with their reading skills, Science Corps an interactive science and engineering career development program for middle school students.
Our longtime partnership with U.S Department of Education has allowed us to empower generations of students through scholastic success via our Upward Bound and Talent Search programs.
The legacy of our diverse programming offerings includes providing students access to vital tutoring services, mentorship, STEM experiments, college campus tours, digital literacy workshops, and beyond.
We are committed to creating meaningful educational and leadership oppoturtunities for the learners and leaders of tomorow.
Our Scholarships
In 1975, LNESC created the LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) which secures annual contributions from sponsors, including major corporations and private funders to provide scholarshpi opportunities to students across the nation.
The program expanded in 1976 to include funds raised by LULAC councils across the country at the grassroots level which are then matched by corporate donations.
The program expanded in 1976 to include funds raised by LULAC councils across the country at the grassroots level which are then matched by corporate donations.
This partnership between communities and corporations helps LNSF maximize the amount of scholarship to the communities we serve nationwide.
To date, LNESC’s Education Centers have served over 607,000 students nationwide, sent 159,000 students to college, and awarded over $30 million in scholarship funding.
Students testimonials across our scholarship pages reflect how the funding not only made the dream of college a reality, but equipped them to reach their highest potential.
LNESC’s impact would not be possible without our strong network of staff, sponsors, partners, LULAC Councils, and communities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Our Legacy in Photos...
Our 50-Year Celebration
For over 50 years, LNESC has been dedicated to empowering students through scholarships, leadership programs, and educational initiatives. Our journey is filled with inspiring stories, transformative programs, and a commitment to student success.
In 2023, LNESC celebrated 50 years of impact through a series of commemorative events, including a youth-centered education conference and celebration at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, recognition awards, and a special 50th Anniversary Podcast amplifying the voices of our students, alumni, and partners.