Aurora Hispanic Heritage Board to host 15th annual community breakfast
The Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board will host its 15th annual community breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road, Aurora.
The annual ceremony - with the theme "Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow" - will bring together hundreds of supporters to celebrate excellence in Aurora's Hispanic community by honoring students and recognizing community leaders for their commitment to the City of Lights. Tickets are $25, available at aurora.seamlessdocs.com/f/AHHABcommunitybreakfast or by contacting Dee Hakala at DHakala@aurora-il.org or (630) 256-3408.
This year's keynote speaker is Lourdes Blacksmith, director of government and community engagement for Waubonsee Community College. For nearly a decade, Blacksmith has served as Waubonsee's point of contact with elected and appointed officials, and their staff. She is also the founder of Companeros en Salud/Partners in Health. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, the coalition's mission is to provide the Hispanic community and other diverse groups with the means to access resources and services for their health and well-being
Each year during the event, Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board presents awards to community leaders for their selfless service to the greater Aurora area.
The Pete Perez Award which honors outstanding leadership and impact on Aurora's Hispanic community will be presented to the Perez family. As stalwart leaders, the Perez family members have upheld the legacy of their patriarch, Pete Perez, in a noble way.
The Delia Nila Basile Award that honors exemplary community service in Aurora will be presented to Maria Lozano, director of English Language Learners for West Aurora Unit District 129.
The Maria S. Merced Award that honors outstanding educators will be presented to Alfredo Bizzocchi, first-grade dual language teacher at Boulder Hill Elementary in Oswego Community Unit District 308.
Another highlight of the annual celebration is the presentation of awards to students from elementary school through college. Mayor Robert J. O'Connor will present the awards to the following elementary and middle school winners of the annual poster and essay contests and to the high school and college recipients of leadership awards & scholarships:
Coloring contest winners in kindergarten to second grade:
Danna Bravo and Gisselle Torres, both of Hill Elementary School; and Veronica Mata of Benavides Kindergarten Center.
Poster contest winners in third to fifth grade:
Yuvia Duran and Kathy Madera, both of Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy; and Jimmy Tapia of Schneider Elementary School.
Essay contest winners in sixth to eighth grade:
Alison Lorenzo of Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy; and Vianni Ortega and Andrea Sosa, both of Simmons Middle School.
Youth Leadership Winners in ninth to 11th grade: Juan Diaz of West Aurora High School; Janae Holloway of Aurora Christian High School; and Odalys Ibarra of East Aurora High School.
College scholarship winners:
Jessica Galindo, Laura Guido, Adrian Gonzalez, Filiberto Gonzalez, Joaquin Miranda and Daniel Saucedo, all of East Aurora High School); Jose Castañeda, Erika Jimenez, Jose Marquez, Jessica Ortiz Porcayo, Evelyn Torres and Valeria Torres, all of West Aurora High School; Tiffany Hamling of Rosary High School; Fredy Quevedo Jr. of Marmion Academy; Lizbeth Rios of Aurora University; Amanda Rivera of Oswego East High School; Guadalupe Romualdo of Waubonsee Community College; and Paulina Torres of Oswego East High School.