ASU’s reputation of accessibility and personalized recruitment techniques are helping to bring a record number of National Hispanic Scholars to the University, officials said Thursday.

“ASU has an image of accessibility that has spread across the country,” said James Rund, senior vice president of University Student Initiatives.

Providing accessibility means welcoming a bigger pool of applicants and an increased number of prospective national scholars, Rund said.

Last year’s combined number of incoming National Hispanic and National Achievement Scholars (or African-American national scholars) was 110 students, a 165-percent increase in the past five years, according to a statement from the University.

This year, 118 incoming National Hispanic Scholars alone were reported.

Rund said Barrett, the Honors College has greatly contributed to the growing number of these national scholars.

Michelle Hollin, program coordinator for recruiting at Barrett, said in the last few years Barrett has seen significant increases in out-of-state national scholars applying to and enrolling in ASU.

“We have an expression in the office: ‘The word is out,’ ” she said.

Hollin said she sees the most National Hispanic Scholar interest at recruitment dinners in the Southwestern cities Barrett specifically targets.

“Cities like San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Albuquerque and cities in north and south California,” she said. “The dinners there help expose students, often for the first time, to Barrett.”

ASU’s location also helps bring National Hispanic Scholars to the University, Hollin said.

“ASU itself is a very diverse campus. Phoenix is a very diverse area,” she said. “With an already diverse community, students are already comfortable.”

Hollin said the University’s strong presence in Phoenix and the Valley attracts career-minded students.

“You can get [diversity] in other cities like Austin or Los Angeles, but in Phoenix, there’s only one university,” she said. “There’s not a lot of competition for internships and other programs.”

Still, the money that comes with a national scholar title remains a big part of Barrett’s recruitment.

“The bottom line is, we offer very generous awards,” Hollin said, referring to the $15,000 ASU grants to in-state national scholars and the $23,000 to out-of-state scholars.

Geology sophomore Katherine Wagner said ASU’s scholarship offer heavily swayed her college decision.

“Being named a National Hispanic Scholar really was a godsend,” she said. “I got scholarships everywhere, but ASU definitely gave me the most.”

Rund said despite the focus on recruiting out-of-state students, many of ASU’s National Hispanic Scholars are Arizona natives.

“Hispanics make up about 50 percent of school-aged children in Arizona.

Our students reflect that full demographic,” he said. “In the context of the New American University, we want to be accessible to all Arizona students.”

College Board, a group that also oversees national standardized testing, runs the National Hispanic Recognition Program.

About 5,000 National Hispanic Scholars are named each year, according to the College Board Web site. Students become eligible for the recognition by scoring highly on the PSAT.

Reach the reporter at jessica.testa@asu.edu.