2020 PR/HYLI Application Released

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The Hudson Valley RBERN invites you to nominate students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in the 30th Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI).

Due to an incredible response rate over the last four years, we expect this year's PR/HYLI program to be highly competitive. Furthermore, participation, commitment, attendance, student potential, as well as effort will all be considered carefully when deciding who will represent and participate in this year's Hudson Valley Delegation.

This year the student application is mostly digital and can be found at these links: 

English version

Spanish version

  • Completed digital student applications MUST be submitted by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 15.

  • Application essays must be emailed to prhyli@hudsonvalleyrbern.org by the end of the day on October 15.

  • References must be mailed and postmarked by October 15 to:

SW BOCES / HV RBERN / PRHYLI
450 Mamaroneck Avenue
3rd Floor
Harrison, NY 10528


PR/HYLI is sponsored by the New York State Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force and the New York State Education Department. PR/HYLI participants develop leadership skills. They also have the opportunity to interact with positive role models such as Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials, educators, and business leaders, and develop in-depth knowledge of the state legislative process.

Last year over 100 students from the Hudson Valley region participated in the training sessions. From that group, almost 50 high-achieving high school Latino students represented the Hudson Valley delegation at the statewide Institute weekend in Albany. The Hudson Valley delegation was the 2nd largest in the state and brought home $8,600 worth of scholarships!

This year’s Institute is scheduled for March 7-9, 2020. During the three-day Institute in Albany, selected students participate in leadership activities, network with high school students from across New York State, participate in a mock assembly, interact with legislators and attend a Student Recognition Dinner.

In preparation for the Institute, a local training program will be conducted by the Hudson Valley RBERN from November of 2019 through March of 2020 at Vassar College and Manhattanville College (a schedule of dates can be found in the application).

Expectations for attendees:

  • To participate in the PR/HYLI training sessions and the weekend Institute, all students must be accompanied by a district chaperone/liaison who will also assist in the training sessions.

  • Face-to-face training sessions take place from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Due to training requirements, we will only accept and retain students who commit to attend the entirety of each training session.

This program has become a cornerstone of developing student leadership, public speaking, and advocacy skills in the Hudson Valley region. Every year PR/HYLI participants rave about the positive impact this program has had on them. We look forward to another successful and life-changing year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Gregory Bailey, Technology Resource Specialist and PR/HYLI Trainer at gbailey@swboces.org or José M. Meléndez, Resource Specialist and PR/HYLI Trainer at jmelendez@swboces.org.