(Washington, DC) March 11, 2008 —The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) recognized Representative Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) as a “Friend of College Access” at the association’s annual legislative conference in Washington, DC.
NACAC members, led by the association’s Government Relations Committee, honored Representative Hinojosa for his leadership in reducing financial and other barriers to postsecondary education. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Representative Hinojosa was pivotal in the bipartisan effort to pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) of 2007 and the Higher Education Act. The CCRAA provided the single largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill.
“Representative Hinojosa’s steadfast support for college access programs means a great deal to associations like ours, and even more to the students we serve,” said Kimberly Johnston, NACAC president and Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University of Maine. “His leadership gives us hope that, with his help, we can continue to make great strides in improving college access during the remainder of the 110th Congress and beyond.”
“I am honored to be receiving this award and remain committed to opening the doors of higher education to more students than ever before,” said Hinojosa. “I am proud to report that already this Congress has made the largest investment in college financial aid in over 60 years. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we continue to improve accessibility so that the dream of college is within reach of every qualified student in America.”
Brian Taylor, member of NACAC’s Government Relations Committee and Director of the Dallas Admission Center for the University of Texas, said, “We are proud to honor Representative Hinojosa for his dedication to improving college access. His leadership will brighten college access prospects for students in Texas and across the nation.”
About NACAC:
NACAC is an Alexandria, VA-based education association of more than 10,500 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.