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Diamante winners announced

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, Diamante Community Award recipients were announced last Friday at Lourdes College’s Franciscan Theatre & Conference Center in Sylvania—this year’s host institution.

The award “recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Latino community in Northwest Ohio,” as determined by the 2005

Diamante Planning Committee, which was comprised this year of: Margarita De León (Publisher, BRAVO bimonthly Magazine), Jackie Enderlen (Lourdes), Louis Escobar (UT), Yolanda Flores (BGSU), César Hernández (Owens), Andi Kurtz (Lourdes), Penny Marks (Lourdes), Dr. Dagmar Morales (UT), Elisea O’Donnell (UT), Chasity O’Neill (MUO), Jennifer Perko (Owens), Sabina Serratos (UT), Robert Torres (Latino Affairs), José Treviño (UT), Sonia Troche (Adelante, Inc.), Kathy Vásquez (MUO), Stephen Vásquez (Lourdes), Connie Weaver (BGSU), and Robbin Wilcox (Lourdes).1

Diamante Community Award Recipients Raquel Colón, Raquel Esperanza Rodríguez, Ofelia Cruz for Carla Soto, Sabina Elizondo Serratos, Deborah Ortiz, and Father Richard Notter (Left to Right).

The five partnering/sponsoring institutions for this annual event are: Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Lourdes College, Medical University of Ohio (MUO), Owens Community College, and the University of Toledo (UT). 

Each of the institutions thanked those in attendance with warm welcomes by: Dr. Robert Helmer (Pres., Lourdes), Dr. Lloyd Jacobs (Pres., MUO), Dr. Dan Johnson (Pres., UT), Dr. Sidney Ribeau (Pres., BGSU), and Dr. Paul Unger (Provost, Owens).

The event’s master of ceremonies was Louis Escobar, President of the Toledo City Council.

Diamante scholarship recipients recognized

Thirty-one Latino/a individual scholarship recipients were recognized: Naomi Valdez (BGSU), Diana Burbante (BGSU), Jennifer M. Clark (Owens), Erica Jaso (Owens), Joseph T. Mack (Owens), Meghan Martínez (BGSU), Melissa Rojas (Lourdes), Danielle Silva (UT), Edna Lynette Torres (UT), Deanna Vásquez (Owens), Orlando Vega (MUO), Lauren Guzman (Lourdes), Brittany Hernández (Lourdes), Alexandra Moreno (Lourdes), Ann Pasquinelly (Lourdes), María Saucedo (MUO), Christina Valdez (Lourdes), Rosa A. Camargo (UT), Aaron A. García (UT), Joyce Hiatt (Owens), José Jiron (MUO), Brandee Mendoza (Lourdes), Nissan Alicia-Lucio Semler (Owens), Latasha Walker (BGSU), Raquel Colón (BGSU), Diane Mendez Feeney (UT), Dana Frisch (MUO), Christina López (Lourdes), Simone Sheets (MUO), Natalia Bautista (Owens), and Diana DeHoyas (Owens).

The scholarship presentations were made by Co-Chairs De León, Dave Brown (Pres. and CEO of Owens Corning) and Jay Hall (Senior VP of National City Bank).

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Diamante Award finalists announced
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The recipients were: Latino Youth Leadership: Raquel Colón (student and former president of LSU at BGSU), with finalists Raquel Esperanza Rodríguez (student at UT and assistant artistic director for Imagenes Mexicanas) and Carla Soto Cruz (student at Owens and Entertainment Editor for La Prensa and Co-producer of LatinoMix/La Prensa Radio Show, WCWA 1230AM; Soto’s mother, Ofelia Cruz, accepted, with Soto being on assignment for the Mexican Consulate and La Prensa in México City, D.F.) recognized; Latino Adult Leadership: Father Richard Notter of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, with finalists Deborah Ortiz (Assistant Director of the Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services) & Sabina Elizondo Serratos (member of Latino Advisory Committee at UT) recognized; and Corporation/Community Agency: Karen Roadruck (Lourdes), & Community Health Services, with finalist American Family Insurance (acceptance by Mark Urrutia) recognized.

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    La Prensa congratulates its ace Entertainment Editor for her finalist postion  in this year’s Diamante Awards, for Latino Youth Leadership. Carla also DJs and co-produces LatinoMix / La Prensa Radio Show every Sunday, 8:00PM, WCWA 1230AM. 

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The award presentations were made by César Hernández (Diamante Community Awards Nomination Chair) and Kathy Vásquez.

Sponsorships and donations recognized

Diamante Awards Planning Committee member De León introduced Karen Fraker of Fifth Third Bank, who announced the bank’s contribution of $50,000 to the Diamante Awards scholarship fund, paid over a period of 5 years, which will be used to enhance scholarship opportunities for Latino students. Proceeds from the Diamante Awards will go to the campaign.

Last year, De León announced that the campaign’s goal was to raise $500,000 by the year 2006. Monies raised—which thus far totals $350,000—will be distributed to all five higher education partners to enhance academic opportunities for Latino students.

“The Diamante Awards were a huge success once again thanks to so many people who work year round,” said De León, Diamante Awards Campaign Co-Chair.  “Having the scholarship recipients from all five institutions be part of our program this year really helped to demonstrate what we are all about.”

La Revancha (Latin jazz/rock of Bowling Green), Jesse Ponce (accordion and bajo, Toledo), and Liliana Ruiz (Flamenco dancer) provided entertainment for the evening. A silent auction was also held.

View Photos from Diamante Awards