$50,000 in scholarships handed out in 16th Hispanic Fest

$50,000 in scholarships awarded at event

MANATEE -- The 16th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on Oct. 17 drew a crowd of more than 1,000 at Manatee Technical College.

Tropicana awarded $50,000 in scholarships to 10 farmworker students as part of PepsiCo's 50th Anniversary 50 for 50 Give Back.

Tropicana scholarships went to the MTI Foundation for 10 farmworker students ages 18 to 25 to attend Manatee Technical College for career preparation.

Winners of the Tropicana-PepsiCo scholarships were Claudio Hernandez, Esmeralda Hernandez, Daniel Munoz, Janeth Serrano, Karla Medina, Jasleen Consuegra, Augustina Vargas, Karla Sereno, Veronica Benites and Julio Cantu.

SCF Lakewood Ranch BioTech Expo set Nov. 12

BRADENTON -- BioTech Expo, a free networking event for the regional life sciences community, is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Lakewood Ranch campus of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, 7131 Professional Pkwy. E., Sarasota.

BioTech Expo highlights the science, technology, engineering and math infrastructure being offered by SCF and other colleges, universities and institutes in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. The event will highlight the innovation, research and health care being pursued in the life sciences. The expo will emphasize how the arts are becoming influential in discovery and innovation. Programs incorporating the arts into STEM curricula will be highlighted.

A brief program will be followed by introductions to industry leaders and university heads. Academic posters will be on display and light appetizers and sodas will be served, with a cash bar for wine and beer.

Sponsorship opportunities available by contacting Stacey Silver at ssilver@bioflorida.com. Registration: Go to bioflorida.com and click on calendar.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "$50,000 in scholarships handed out in 16th Hispanic Fest ."