Award winners announced

Winners were announced of Metro Toledo’s annual Diamante Awards, according to Matt Lockwood, director of public relations for the University of Toeldo/Medical University of Ohio.

Mary Jane Flores was awarded with the Friend of Latino Community Diamante Award. Mrs. Flores has worked with the United Way of Greater Toledo and Wal-Mart, resulting in a donation from Wal-Mart of $10,000 for supplies needed for farmworkers who were without work due to the heavy rainfall. She also organized volunteers to unload the pallets of supplies.

Mary Jane Flores

Mary Jane is the widow of the beloved Judge Joseph A. Flores and she informed La Prensa that there will be a special remembrance of the judge on October 15, 2006 (2:00-6:00PM) at Latins United/Latinos Unidos Hall in Toledo with a Mexican dinner provided by El Camino and El Camino Sky Restaurants. Funds will be raised for a special scholarship fund for the University of Toledo Law School.    

Ann Pasquinelly was awarded with the Latino Youth Recognition Award. Pasquinelly is the founding president of the Latino Student Union at Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio and initiated the Latino Student Union Scholarship Fund. She participated in the FLOC March for Justice Steering Committee, Latino Youth Summit Parent Night Volunteer Coordinator, Toledo Hispanic Club, City of Toledo Youth Commission College Advisory board member and volunteering at Adelante, Inc.

The Latino Adult Leadership Diamante Award was award to José Treviño. Treviño is a longtime member and leader of ECCHO, informing Latino students of college and academic programs. He is a mainstay leader of the Latino Youth Summit which brings 600-plus youth to the UT campus.

The Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center was awarded with the Friend of Latino Community/Corporate Recognition Diamante Award. The SQACC, directed by José Balderas, is being recognized for their partnership with the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA). Through the partnership over the past 3 years, more than 1,500 children have participated in art classes at the center under the instruction of teachers from the TMA. Latino students have benefited from full scholarships to take more advanced classes at the Museum.

Nominees will be honored Friday, September 8 at the annual awards event, taking place at the University of Toledo Student Union Auditorium. Tickets for the awards are available at the cost of $60 each.

The awards are presented by a select committee representing the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College, and the Diamante Steering Committee (including Margarita De León, Stephen Vásquez, and Sabina Serratos). Contact Chasity O’Neill at 419-383-5056 for ticket information.