2nd Annual Hispanic Leadership Awards Luncheon
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the 2nd Annual Hispanic Leadership Awards Luncheon was held at the Harriet Himmel Theater in Cityplace on September 22, 2016. Palm Beach County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa was the featured Keynote Speaker. During the event, individuals who have made a difference in the lives of Hispanic students in South Florida through education were recognized for their contributions.
John I. Leonard Community High School received two donations: a $6000 donation for their International Spanish Academy program to send a student to Universidad de Valencia in Spain to study Hispanic Studies. Additionally, the School District of Palm Beach County offered a teaching job within the District to that student upon returning to the U.S.
John I. Leonard Community High School also received a $1000 donation from Santillana USA, a subsidiary of Grupo Santillana, the largest educational publisher in the Spanish-speaking world.
Recipients of 2016 Awards:
Public Service
State Senator Joseph Abruzzo, Florida Senate
State Senator Anitere Flores, Florida Senate
Former State Representative Erik Fresen
Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, Miami Dade County Public Schools
Board Member Marcia Andrews, School District of Palm Beach County
Educational Leadership
Superintendent Dr.Walt Griffin, Seminole County Public Schools
Susy Martinez-White, Palm Beach State College
Principal Oscar Otero, Conniston M.S., School District of Palm Beach County
Michael Ramirez, Broward County Public Schools
Dr. Frank Rodriguez, School District of Palm Beach County
Lana St. Hilaire, School District of Palm Beach County
Principal Ed Tierney, John I. Leonard H.S., School District of Palm Beach County
Community Education Leadership
Lyanne Azqueta Fanjul, President New Hope Charities, Inc.
Giselle Lundy-Ponce, Colorfn Colorado, American Federation of Teachers
Father Frank O’Loughlin, The Guatemalan-Maya Center
Glenn Tomlinson, Department of Education, Norton Museum
Community Leadership
Marfa Antuna, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County
Diana Bolfvar, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Marta Casas Celaya, Comcast
Dr. Deandre Poole, Coalition for Black Student Achievement
Sam Roman, Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
International Partnership
DonJavier Garefa-Velasco, Education Attache, Spain Ministry of Education
The Honorable Candido Creis Estrada, Consul General of Spain
