Recognizing the achievements of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund as it celebrates its 17TH Annual Scholarship Banquet on May 12, 2005, and further Recognizing and Honoring Pedro A. Ramos, Esquire on being this years honoree.

WHEREAS, The Hispanic Bar Association (HBA), helps to promote the number and advancement of Latino attorneys throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, As part of its education goal to increase the enrollment of Latino students in law schools, the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund (HBALEF) awards educational scholarships to Hispanic law students; and

WHEREAS, Over the last seventeen years, the HBALEF awarded more than 80 scholarships to worthy recipients, many of whom are first generation college graduates; and

WHEREAS, This year's honoree, Pedro A. Ramos, Esquire, has the distinction of being the first Latino to hold the office of President for the Philadelphia School Board and is the first Latino to be Managing Director of Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we recognize the achievements of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund as it celebrates its 17TH Annual Scholarship Banquet on May 12, 2005, and further recognizing and honoring Pedro A. Ramos, Esquire on being this year's honoree.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas Warnock, President of the Hispanic Bar Association and Managing Director Pedro A. Ramos, Esquire as an expression of the sincere sentiments and admiration of this legislative body.

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