Latin American group names its Man, Woman of the Year
Submitted by Judson University
The local League of United Latin American Citizens Council 5236 honored Judson University President Jerry B. Cain as Man of the Year at its 10th anniversary celebration Sept. 13 during a dinner event on the Elgin campus of Judson University.
“Dr. Cain is being honored as Man of the Year for his extraordinary commitment to strong religious and ethical based higher education, which includes the growing Latino population in this region,” said spokeswoman Jo Ann Armenta in a news release.
Cain has been a member of the local LULAC council for several years. In 2007, Cain committed $100,000 in scholarship funds, spread out over 5 years, to be awarded to local Latino students to attend Judson University. This fall, three more Latino recipients of this scholarship are attending Judson: Angélica Salgado-Velazquez of Round Lake Beach, Ezequiel Rivera of Elgin and Agustín Martínez of Addison.
Current LULAC president Helen López Strom of Elgin was honored as Woman of the Year at the celebration. Among her many accolades and accomplishments, Strom led the design of LIVE: LULAC’s Initiative for bilingual Volunteers in Elgin, a project that informs bilingual Latinos about the value of their bilingual skills and encourages them to become more involved in their community through volunteerism.
She also coordinated 15 local Latino organizations to offer the first bilingual candidates’ forum, a major success, in which more than 300 people attended. Strom recently received a city of Elgin Image Award and her many contributions were also recognized with a YWCA Leader Award.
Strom is also connected to Judson through her husband. Bruce Strom, who graduated from the college in 1987.
Founded in 1929, LULAC is the oldest Hispanic civic organization in the U.S. There are currently more than 700 local chapters throughout the US, having more than 100,000 members.
The local council is an all-volunteer service organization that was launched in 2001 in the basement offices of the old Cardunal Bank, with only a handful of participants. The council now has 32 active and committed members who celebrated their 10 years of service in the Elgin, Carpentersville and Dundee area with several honored guests.