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In addition to the four Diamante Awards, scholarships will be
presented to over 40 students from Owens Community College,
Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College, and The
University of Toledo – the four Northwest Ohio institutions
whose partnership in the awards program benefits their Latino
students.
Gregory A. Guzmán,
Director of Student Financial Aid at Bowling Green State
University, will provide comments. At 9 p.m., a silent auction
will take place to raise scholarship funds and feature an array
of donated items from the surrounding communities. Entertainment
is by Grupo Azteca.
Among the four award honorees are: Oriana Orozco, Toledo,
a junior at Lourdes College, who is pursuing her bachelor’s
degree in marketing. She will receive the Latina Youth
Leadership Award. A former recipient of the Cesar Chavez
Humanitarian Award and numerous scholarships, including the
Diamante, Orozco is a leader within the Latino student community
at Lourdes College. In 2007, she was elected President of the
Lourdes College Latino Student Union (LSU), a role in which she
still holds. Through fundraisers, the LSU has raised substantial
dollars for migrant families throughout Northwest Ohio.
Orozco is active in Lourdes’ “Get in the Game New Student
Orientation Program” and volunteers at various campus-sponsored
events, including Latino Career Day and the College’s 50th
Anniversary Celebration. Additionally, she volunteers at
Washington Church as a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) Nanny.
Albert Flores,
of Toledo will be named the Latino Adult Leadership Award
recipient. Flores’ commitment to the area youth of Northwest
Ohio has spanned over 33 years of dedicated service.
As a school teacher at Libbey High School, Flores continuously
stresses to his students about the importance of a college
education. From guiding students through the FAFSA application
process to advocating and guiding individuals through
scholarship opportunities at area academic institutions, Flores
gives tirelessly of his time to help them achieve academic and
career success. In addition to teaching, Flores serves on the
EXCEL board at The University of Toledo and recently began
tutoring University student-athletes.
Mark Pickett,
of Fremont, Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of
Toledo, will be named the recipient of the Friend of the
Latino Community Award. Picket has been a longtime advocate
in creating opportunities for students who face great challenges
in their education pursuits, especially children of Latino
migrant workers. His devotion to education includes spending
countless hours planning, gathering resources and assembling an
array of educators to reach those individuals in need of
assistance.
Recognizing the tremendous educational challenges facing
children of Latino migrant workers as a result of repeatedly
relocating to new schools, the loss of a stable learning
environment and mentor relationships, Pickett decided to create
an educational program that meets the needs of these
individuals, as well as a program that teaches the students’
teachers. Among the program highlights include the students’
participation in The University of Toledo’s Latino Student
Summit.
Pickett’s leadership goes beyond his organizing and teaching
initiatives as he works tirelessly to secure funding for these
programs from agencies such as the National Science Foundation
and the Ohio Department of Education, which enables teachers to
participate in the educational program free of charge. His
program also advocates that the educators give back to the
community by teaching migrant students in satellite schools
throughout Northwest Ohio.
This year’s recipient of the Corporation/Community Agency
Award is The Chrysler Foundation, which has served as
event sponsor of the Diamante Awards for the past four years.
The Chrysler Foundation’s dedication and commitment to the event
sponsorship now totals $60,000. In addition to the event
sponsorship, The Chrysler Foundation had requested that $5,000
of the annual sponsorship be matched by the participating higher
education institutions resulting in $40,000 in direct
scholarships to students. The Chrysler Foundation’s support has
had an impact of $100,000 for the past four years.
Diamante Award recipients are chosen based on recognition of
exemplary leadership/achievements within the Latino community or
community at large, or demonstrated excellence in their fields;
dedication and commitment in an ethical and inclusive fashion,
and modeling qualities and behaviors of a mentor for youth and
the community.
The annual Diamante Awards, now comprising Owens Community
College, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College and The
University of Toledo, was founded by the Northwest Ohio Latino
advocacy organization IMAGE in 1989 to recognize individuals and
organizations in the local Latino community for their
outstanding contributions, and to recognize the impact of
Latinos on U.S. culture and society. The initiative includes
providing scholarships and other support to make it possible for
Latino students to attend college.
Tickets for the Diamante Awards celebration are $75 per person
or $125 per couple in advance, or $85 per person or $150 per
couple the day of the event. For more information, call (567)
661-7510 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7510.
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