WASHINGTON

Ten health professional students pursuing health-care careers in California will receive $5,000 and $2,000 scholarships today (Feb. 11) from the National Hispanic Health Foundation at a gala in Sacramento.

They will be awarded at the Second Annual Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Gala.

The keynote speaker will be the Honorable Dean Florez, California Senate Majority Leader.

The event also honors recipients of the Health Leadership Awards. This year’s honorees are Carmela Castellano-Garcia, president and chief executive officer of the California Primary Care Association; the Honorable Joe Coto, member, California State Assembly; Lawrence B. Garcia, board of trustees, Mercy Foundation; and Claire Pomeroy, dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences at the University of California/Davis.

 "We are proud to honor these leaders who are committed to service to California," said Dr. Elena Rios, president and C.E.O. of the health foundation.

"They are increasing access to health care, shaping health-reform policy and increasing Hispanic students in health professions schools."

The scholarship program is supported by the United Health Foundation, Abbott, AETNA, California Endowment, Eli Lilly, University of California at Davis, California Healthcare, Blue of California, Molina Healthcare, Diepenbrock Harrison, Johnson and Johnson and PepsiCo.

This year's scholarship recipients are: Hugo Torres, University of California/San Francisco School of Medicine; Marina Alvarez, University of California/LA School of Public Health; Patrice Espinosa, UC/SF; Omar Guzman, UCLA School of Public Affairs; Christina Lares, San Diego State University; Angela Lemos, East Los Angeles College; Ana Melgar, UC/Davis School of Medicine; Alfredo Mireles, Jr., UCSF; Monica Pardo, UCLA School of Dentistry; and Gisela Villagomez, UCSF.

Since the scholarship program was launched in 2004, it has awarded 70 scholarships totaling $138,000.