The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission is proud to announce the scholars and community heroes to be honored at the Tomás Rivera Latinx Excellence in Education Ceremony on May 9, at 6:00 p.m. at Central Library Aaronson Auditorium, located at 400 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 74103. The event is free and open to the public. Much of the ceremony will be conducted in Spanish with English translation available. This year’s keynote speaker will be Edurne Pineda, head consul for the Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma City. The event will also have special guests including Mayor G.T. Bynum.
The Tomás Rivera Latinx Excellence in Education Ceremony honors scholars and heroes in education who are making a positive impact on the Latinx community of Tulsa. The awarded categories are described below:
Heroes in Education
Outstanding citizens who work actively to support the Latinx community in education as a volunteer, parent, exceptional teacher, educational researcher, tutor and mentor, administrative staff and/or community member;
Scholars
Latinx students in their senior year of high school with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, with 90-percent attendance in the first semester of their senior year and who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in extracurricular activities both in school and in the community.
The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission’s Education Committee selected the award winners from among open nominations received through an online nomination form. See below for a complete list of awardees.
SCHOLARS |
SCHOOL AFFILIATION |
Alondra Juarez Santana |
North Star Academy |
Andres Alejandro Urquiola Medina |
Jenks High School |
Bethzabet Sierra |
Will Rogers College High School |
Brisa Martinez |
Union High School |
Daniela Ofelia Llamas |
Union High School |
Giovanny Hernandez |
Union High School |
Gustavo Angel Balderas |
Nathan Hale High School |
Iris Palma Armendariz |
Union High School |
Ivan Herrera |
Union High School |
Jacqueline Ixlaj Vasquez |
Union High School |
Janet Aburto |
Mclain High School |
Jehovany Sanchez |
Will Rogers High School |
Joseph Ronquillo Mendoza |
Union High School |
Kali Anderson |
Union High School |
Karen Rangel Valero |
Booker T. Washington High School |
Kristina Marquez Esparza |
Tulsa Honor Academy |
Lesley Carranza Arana |
Daniel Webster High School |
Luis Sanchez Dominguez |
Will Rogers High School |
Maria Aleman Pacheco |
Union High School |
Martinez Espinoza, Joseph A |
Union High School |
Vanessa Solis |
Will Rogers High School |
HEROES IN EDUCATION |
ORGANIZATION |
Abby Lehman |
Tulsa Early Learning Works by Educare |
Amy Smith |
Union Public Schools |
Blanca Willis |
Tulsa Community College |
Daniel Chaboya |
Tulsa Community College |
Elizabeth Benavides |
Union Public Schools |
Joey Reyes |
Farmers Insurance, James Mission |
Jorge Ibarra |
Arvest Bank |
Kali Anderson |
Union Public Schools |
Michael DuPont |
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies |
Taylor Pride |
Rogers High School |