Diageo, the world’s leading spirits, beer and wine company, has awarded eight students with a total of $60,000 in scholarships as part of its second annual «Celebrate the Future» Scholarship Fund program. The scholarships were announced during a recent awards dinner held at the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art in Chicago.

«Diageo is pleased to promote education as a path to success,» said Diana Fujimura, Marketing Director, Illinois, Diageo North America. «With a focus on supporting students of Hispanic backgrounds over the age of 21, these scholarships underscore Diageo’s longstanding commitment to the Latino community,» she added.

This year Diageo partnered with the Wirtz Beverage Group, one of the leading alcohol beverage distributors in the country and Diageo’s distributor in Illinois. «Wirtz Beverage added a unique component to the program when it agreed to offer two six-month paid internships in the areas of sales and marketing,» Fujimura said.

The «Celebrate the Future» scholarship recipients were awarded $7,500 each in order to support their continuing education and some of them will be attending Washburne Culinary Institute, Lexington College, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University. The Wirtz Beverage Group internship winner was also recognized at the dinner.

The «Celebrate the Future» 2010 Scholarship Fund program featured bilingual point-of-sale materials at participating retailers throughout the Chicago area. Diageo brands participating in the program included Jose Cuervo, Buchanan’s, Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Baileys, and Don Julio.