At the sixth annual Gala Latina, the Latinx/Hispanic community celebrated their root and honored six students, a faculty and a staff member with awards.
The connection between many of the cultures of the Latinx/Hispanic community was on display at the sixth annual Gala Latina held Thursday, Dec. 1, in LaRose Student Commons.
The event sponsored by El Centro and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) honored six students, a faculty member and a staff member with awards of excellence in front of a room full of their peers. Gala Latina is a celebration of success and achievement within 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Latinx/Hispanic community and is dedicated to the empowerment of students, faculty, and staff who identify as Latinx/Hispanic.
鈥淲e want to welcome, recognize, and celebrate the Latinx/Hispanic community at 黑料不打烊. It is a celebration of our roots, our hard work, and our resiliency,鈥 said Assistant Director of the CREDE, MJ Larrazabal 鈥21. 鈥淢ost importantly, it鈥檚 a chance to build and be in ‘communidad,’ or community.鈥
Typically聽held in the spring, the event was moved to the fall to extend the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and to welcome first-year students, who received a special gift at Thursday night’s event. 鈥淚t is a token of us welcoming you into our community,”聽Larrazabal said in her opening remarks. “Welcome to our family.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢肉檚 Latinx/Hispanic community is ever-growing and multifaceted, and I have the privilege of spending most of my time with these students,鈥 she continued, 鈥淚 would be remised if I didn鈥檛 tell everyone, you are the strongest people I have ever met.鈥
During the presentation of the awards, many of the recipients were truly surprised and grateful for the recognition. Each name called received an ovation and cheers. The night was a celebration of community centered on those who actively uplift it. Nominators often use passionate, determined, role model, advocate and even 鈥渁 force to be reckoned with鈥 to describe the awardees.
To close the presentation, Latinx/Hispanic Union President Karen Cruz-Ruiz said,
鈥淒on鈥檛 forget your roots. You deserve to be here and every good thing that happens in your life.鈥
Recipients of the annual awards:
Academic Excellence Awards
This award was presented to students with the highest cumulative GPA in their respective classes.
- Ket Cordova 鈥23
- Alanis Camacho-Narvaez 鈥24
- Cristy Marine 鈥25
Latinx/Hispanic Honor Award
This award recognizes a Latinx/Hispanic student鈥檚 commitment to the community. This individual has gone above and beyond to create a more inclusive and representative campus for all Latinx/Hispanic students.
- Latinx/Hispanic Honor Award Recipient:聽Ana Sof铆a Rodriguez 鈥25
- Latinx/Hispanic Excellence Award Recipient: Sarah Escorcia 鈥24
Outstanding Senior Award
This award recognizes the leadership, involvement and mentorship exhibited by a Latinx/Hispanic senior throughout their time at 黑料不打烊.
- Karen Cruz-Ruiz 鈥23
Latinx/Hispanic Service Awards
This award recognizes members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty and staff who offer constant support to the Latinx/Hispanic community.
- Israel Balderas, assistant professor of journalism
- MJ Larrazabal 鈥21, Assistant Director of the CREDE