Local Hispanic Youth to be Honored By QCC at Annual HACE Event

WORCESTER, Ma. – Quinsigamond Community College will celebrate the 23rd annual Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence (H.A.C.E.) awards reception and ceremony on Wednesday, October 8, at QCC’s Harrington Learning Center at 5:30pm.

Thirty-three Hispanic youth will be honored this year from ten different Worcester Public Schools Students. They were chosen for their outstanding efforts in one of the following areas:  academics, the arts, athletics, community service, and leadership. Students are nominated by their school principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and community leaders and/or agencies.  In addition to being recognized, each will receive a monetary award to help defray the costs of future educational needs.

The evening will feature guest speaker, State Representative Geraldo Alicea. A native of Southbridge, Alicea was elected to the MA House of Representatives in 2007. He is noted for continually fighting in his legislative position for funding that supports youth and teen outreach programs. In 2007 Alicea was awarded “Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Nursing Association, and in 2008 he was awarded “Legislator of the Year” by the MA Office of Victim Assistance. He has also been recognized by the Hispanic News Press and El Planeta Newspaper as one of the most influential individuals in the Hispanic community.

The H.A.C.E. was created in 1985 by faculty and staff at QCC, along with business and community leaders of Worcester, to raise community awareness of the richness of Hispanic culture.  H.A.C.E. encourages youth to focus on education, recognizes achievements of young people of Hispanic heritage, and provides positive role models through inspirational speakers and exposure to community leaders.

High school student award winners are as follows:

ACADEMICS

Ryan Alvarado__________St. Peter Marian Central Catholic High School
Olga Marie Colon Mercado____________Doherty Memorial High School
Ryan Cruz _________________________________Burncoat High School
Gabriel Diaz_________________________________Burncoat High School
Gabriel Marcano_____________________University Park Campus School
Steisy Robles_____________________________The Claremont Academy
Valarie Sanchez________________________________North High School
Vanessa Valladares________________________The Claremont Academy
Sonia Zepeda________________________South High Community School

ARTS

Maria Cantos______________________Worcester Technical High School
Iris Estrada_________________________South High Community School
Samantha Oliveras________________________The Claremont Academy
Masielle Paulino__________________________The Claremont Academy
Alfredo Porras_____________________________Holy Name High School
Yadilza Reyes_______________________University Park Campus School
Elybeth Rodriguez___________________Doherty Memorial High School
Pablo Torres__________________________________North High School
Evelyn Vasquez______________________________Notre Dame Academy

ATHLETICS

Jean Carlos Batista___________________Doherty Memorial High School
Casandra Crespo_______________________________North High School
Carlos Ortiz______________________________The Claremont Academy
Nicole Otto__________________________________Notre Dame Academy
Deborah Silva_____________________Worcester Technical High School
Jonathan Torres_____________________University Park Campus School
Marifel Ullola_______________________South High Community School

LEADERSHIP

Juan Aulet________________________Worcester Technical High School
Gimo Barrera_______________________Doherty Memorial High School
Adriana Campoverde_______________Worcester Technical High School
Noel Ortiz_____________________________________North High School
Esther Pacheco______________________University Park Campus School
Koranda Suarez_______________________________South High School

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Samantha DeLeon______________________________North High School
Kayla Fonseca____________________________The Claremont Academy