This week, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) held its annual Leaders in Education Awards (LEA) Luncheon to recognize distinguished HSF scholars and parents, along with the group's community and corporate partners which have demonstrated exemplary service in helping Hispanic students achieve higher education.

"The amazing individuals and organizations we recognized at the 2015 Leaders in Education Awards set a high bar for what it means to be a leader in advancing education for Hispanic students across the country," said HSF President and CEO Fidel A. Vargas in a press release.

"At HSF, we are using every means at our disposal - new technology, new programs, new ways of giving more students and families than ever before, the resources they need to pursue higher education. The outstanding leadership demonstrated by our 2015 LEA honorees is an inspiration, as we continue this important work," he added.

The luncheon, which took place in Los Angeles, was hosted by Emmy award winning reporter for NBC4 in LA Kim Baldonado, who tweeted that she was "honored to give back to HSF which supported my college education many years ago."

During the LEA luncheon, it was announced that Natalie Aguirre, a biology major at Pepperdine University, won the HSF's Female Scholar of the Year award.

"The moment that I found out I received a scholarship was life changing," she said.

The Male Scholar of the Year was awarded to Chris Soriano, a biology major at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"I thank you for believing in me," he said at the ceremony.

The LEA Parents of the Year award was also presented to Patricia and Juan Garcia for their support and guidance in helping their children pursue higher education.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund was honored with the LEA Community Partner of the Year award due to their partnership with HSF in supporting Latino students' academic development and access to higher education.

Furthermore, The Walt Disney Company received the LEA Corporate Partner of the Year award.

In addition to offering scholarships and support services to exceptional Hispanic American students, the group works to empower Latino families to successfully complete a higher education, according to the HSF website.

HSF, the nation's largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, has awarded almost a half of a billion dollars in scholarships to students since it was founded in 1975.