CSU President James Lyons (left) greets NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza and White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans Executive Director Adam Chavarria (right) prior to a meeting at CSU's Dominguez Hills Campus. (Photo by Gary Kuwahara, CSU)

National Weather Service Southern Region Director Bill Proenza was asked to represent Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez in March in support of a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. At a welcoming dinner at the Dominguez Hills Campus of California State University (CSU), Proenza joined Adam Chavarria, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, and other Hispanic leaders who praised this important Presidential initiative. The event was hosted by CSU President James Lyons.

On October 12, 2001, President George W. Bush signed an executive order establishing the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The purpose of the 17 member commission was to work collectively to address the educational issues facing children of Hispanic ancestry living in the United States.

A multi-year action plan was developed to help close the educational achievement gap between Hispanic students and their peers. It was designed to help ensure members of the fastest growing segment of the nation's population not only graduate high school at the same rate as their peers - but go on to complete a college education.

"To do that, we need to reach out to Hispanic parents, educators, business and community leaders - as well as government officials at the local, state and federal level," said Proenza. "The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans relies on the cooperative efforts of entire communities."