New London — Students and their family members attended the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut scholarship brunch Saturday at the Holiday Inn.

Twelve students received the scholarship for academic excellence and contributing to the community. Not all recipients were in attendance.

The program was created in 2000 and has awarded more than 300 scholarships to Hispanic students attending 2- and 4-year colleges or universities, according to the New London-based nonprofit's website, hispanicalliancesect.org. "Most of our awardees are first-generation college students and many of them have joined the labor force as economists, engineers, nurses, physicians, social workers and teachers among other professions," it says.