2006 Winners of the 2006 Hispanic Heritage Award Educator of the Year DR. MURRAY SIMON (Howard County) Nominated by Yanitza Claret Navas, Marcelino Bedolla (Vice-President, Conexiones), Roy Appletree (Executive Director, FIRN) and Rev. Walter Rodriguez (Ellicott City Primera Iglesia del Nazareno) for his dedication to Hispanic students. Dr. Simon has been involved in activities to improve the educational opportunities of Hispanic students. Co-founder of the organization, Conexiones, whose vision is to see that every Hispanic student in Howard County completes high school. Concerned about the high school drop out rates in our schools, a tutoring program was piloted at a middle school and an after school program was begun to broaden the student’s perspective beyond their neighborhood. These are only a few of the initiatives begun by Dr. Simon in Maryland. However, his efforts on behalf of Hispanics pre-date his time here with us. Dr. Simon has been involved in educational efforts in a number of countries in Latin America while with the Agency for International Development and taught English to newly arrived Hispanics in New York City. Business of the Year MIRIAM BALDWIN INSTITUTO DE EDUCACION INFANTIL, INC. (Prince George’s County) Nominated by Santiago de Leon. El Instituto ha sido y es una fuente solida de trabajo asi ayudando a fortalecer la economia del Estado de Maryland. El Instituto es uno de los pocos negocios pioneros en el Estado, entrenando y graduando a una enorme cantidad de mujeres de la comunidad . El entrenamiento que reciben estas mujeres en el Instituto de Educacion INfantil es de tan alta calidad professional que en un corto tiempo despues de graduarse, las alumnas han podido establecer en muchos cases sus propios negocios de cuidado de ninos con mucho exito. Outstanding Faith Based Contribution ALFREDO "FREDDY" HIDALGO (Montgomery and Prince George’s County) Nominated by George Rivera for his dedication to helping the poor. A deacon since 1979, he was assigned to St. Camillus Catholic Church to work with Hispanics in Langley Park. Since 1995, he has been ministering to Hispanics at St. Bernard Parish in Riverdale. Mr. Hidalgo’s enthusiasm, great faith, warmth and compassion compliment his extraordinary commitment to helping Hispanics. Exemplary Public Safety Efforts HOWARD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT HISPANIC INITIATIVE During 2005, several individuals participated in a Hispanic initiative in order to enhance the health and wellness of the Latino population, bridging the gap between the growing Latino population and law enforcement. Goals included providing vital information pertaining to health care and public safety, to better interact with the Latino population, assure this group that they should not fear the police and efforts to minimize or reduce misunderstandings by law enforcement officers. Members of the Hispanic initiative included Lieutenant A.J. Bellido de Luna, Corporal Gabe Arias, Corporal Alan Shaffer, PFC Sandra Frazier, PFC Al Davila, PFC Chris Georgopoulos, Dispatcher Lisa de Hernandez, PFC Emelly Hurley, PFC Brandon Justice, PFC Manny Rodriguez and PFC Robert Rodriguez, under the guidance of G. Wayne Livesay, Chief of Police, Howard County Police Department. Exemplary Government Employee CARLOS CAMINO (Anne Arundel County) Nominated by Maria Casasco, Lt. Bill Lynn and Carmen Camacho for his outreach to Anne Arundel County’s Hispanics as Coordinator for Special Programs for the Anne Arundel County Department of Health and as a volunteer for his church, organizing events for children, youth and adults. Lifetime Achievement EMILIO PERCHE-RIVAS (Montgomery County) Nominated by Alberto Reluzco, Ramon & Anna Laura Ruiz, Lazara V. Valle, Nivea Cordova Berrios and Sandra Contreras. As Director of the Spanish Community of Maryland since 1977, Mr. Perche Rivas is without any question the most influential community leader in the creation and maintenance of the most successful educational program for limited English proficient students in the history of Montgomery County Public Schools; his assistance and referral has played an important part of those who need employment, housing, and medical, food, clothing and immigration legal assistance. Among his major contributions has been his active participation in the legalization of more than 3,000 individuals through the amnesty program for which the organization received an award from the Baltimore’s immigration office. He has helped at least as many people to become U.S. citizens and to register to vote to make their voices heard and their votes count. National Service SISTER CARMEN BANEGAS (Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties) Nominated by Federico Vilella, Manuel Boluda, Luisa F. Willis and Father Lawrence J. Hayes. Sister Carmen Banegas, C.C.V., a Carmelite Sister of Charity has served tirelessly for over 27 years at the Spanish Catholic Center and St. Camillus Parish. While working at the Spanish Catholic Center as a social worker offering employment assistance, she witnessed some of the injustices suffered by the poor, especially women. This led her, in 1979, to receive the needed immigration training to be certified by the government to provide immigration assistance. She has helped to organize immigration workshops to assist immigrants from the metropolitan area to apply for citizenship, amnesty, TPS and other programs. She has received several certificates from INS acknowledging her fine work which stretched over 25 years. Knowns as "abogada del pobre" this pioneer does not know the meaning of the word retirement and assists many people who pass by her apartment in Langley Park seeking immigration assistance, pastoral counseling and preparation for sacraments. She continues to be a beacon of hope for the communities in Langley Park. Unsung Hero DR. DANIEL AUKERMAN (Carroll County) Nominated by Tammy Black, Executive Director of Access Carroll, a free primary care facility, for his volunteer services. In addition, in addition to volunteering at Access Carroll, Inc. Dr. Aukerman works full time for Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. and frequently travels to Latin American Hispanic countries, serving as physician and Team Leader in medical projects. Although he has a deep compassion for all people, his emphasis on the needs of the Hispanic population is evident with progress in multiple health care arenas. Youth (under age 26) ALVARO ORTIZ (Montgomery County) Nominated by Candice Kattar from Identity, Inc., as an outstanding example of the contributions made by our immigrant communities and of the enthusiasm and energy of our youth. Alvaro started as a participant in one of Identity’s after-school program in 2002 and moved on to become a volunteer Peer Educator. Mr. Ortiz also and served on Identity’s Youth Advisory Board and volunteered with the school’s ESOL program. Upon graduation from high school in 2005, he received a scholarship from NBC Channel 4 to attend Montgomery College. He continues to volunteer with Identity and with the Office of the Public Defender where he provides much-needed assistance to the Spanish-speaking community they serve. Senior (age 55+) GERALD SCHREIBER (Baltimore City) Nominated by Cindy Fickes, Director of the Archdiocesan Hispanic Apostolate/Immigration Legal Services in Baltimore City for his kindness, dedication and support for the Hispanic community. Mr. Schreiber has volunteered at the Hispanic Apostolate since 1996 and has been active in a number of activities, among them: volunteered regularly for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council ESL programs for Spanish speaking people; tutored English to the staff of the Young Christian Workers and St. Michael’s Parish in Baltimore, represented the Apostolate at the Social Ministry Convocation at Seton Keough High School and tutors a number of priests of the Baltimore Archdiocese in English. Exemplary Organization UNITED HANDS OF CARROLL COUNTY Nominated by Denise Wilson Diegel (Volunteer-St. John Church), Mark Krider (Anverse, Inc.), Rev. Leo Patalinghug (St. John Catholic Church), Daniel Espinoza (padre de familia) and Audrey Cimino (Executive Director of Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc.) for promoting sensitivity toward the Hispanic population in Carroll County. Founded by three women in 2003 - Jenni Sharkey, Elena Hartley and Ruby Shu Costea - United Hands of Carroll County has also assisted numerous people to bridge the differences in language and culture to meet their needs in health, employment, housing and family responsibilities. Writes Daniel Espinoza: "Mi responsabilidad como padre de familia es dar mi opinión verdadera de la ayuda recibida...es por ello y por la causa humanitaria donde radica sus objectivos incondicionales ruego a Dios siempre bendiga a esta organización...y le damos gracias por todo." This Page Last Revised on January 11, 2007