HPAC Reception for TUSD & SUSD Superintendents

Hispanic Professional Action Committee

Press Release

February 12, 2009 - Updated

Phoebe Chalk 520-850-2136

pchalk@arizona.edu

HPAC to Honor and Recognize Several Outstanding Community Members

Hispanic Professional Action Committee (HPAC) is every pleased to announce the 2009 Awards and Recognition Celebration honoring several outstanding community members who have worked hard to better the community. The following individuals will be recognized on February 19, 2009.

Joaquín Ruiz - Man of the Year

Linda Mazón Gutiérrez - Woman of the Year

San Miquel High School - Community Organization Award

Rigoberto López - Community Service Individual Award

Edmund Márquez - Lucero “Rising Star” Award

Dorothy Finley - Lifelong Service Medallion Award

Bernal Family - Special Recognition Award

The recognition celebration will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, (program begins at 6:00 pm) at The Stillwell House, 134 S. Fifth Avenue. The event cost is $30 per person and open to the public. You are asked to RSVP by sending your check made payable to HPAC to PO Box 89, Tucson, AZ 85702. RSVP deadline is February 17, 2009. For more information please visit http://hpactucson.org/

Information about the Honorees:

Joaquin Ruiz, HPAC Man of the Year

The University of Arizona College of Science Dean will be recognized for his dedicated service to the community. For the past 25 years, he has had a distinguished career as a scholar and a leader at the UA. He is seen as a collaborative leader whose hard work has earned him the respect internal and external UA stakeholders. He has also worked extensively to create bridges for international research, and collaborations between the UA and other countries. Ruiz never stops looking for ways to bridge the gap between the university and the community. His outreach efforts include weekend radio broadcasts in Spanish bringing Science to the community in free and easy to understand lectures. He served on the Women's Foundation Advisory Board and currently serves on the boards of the Airport Authority and the Wildcat School.

Linda Mazón Gutiérrez, HPAC Woman of the Year

Ms. Linda Mazón Gutiérrez is President and CEO of the Hispanic Women’s Corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona which hosts over 2000 Latina women every year at its National Hispanic Women’s Conference and 500 high school Latina seniors for its empowerment seminars---the largest gathering of Latinas in the country. Linda also serves on the National Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts USA and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) serving over four million latinos across the United States and Puerto Rico. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Arizona State University in 1972 and 1973 and completed her fellowship at Harvard at the JFK School of Government through the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) in 1992.

She was awarded the 2004 National Foundation for Women Legislators Latina Leadership Award at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. for her work in the education of Latina women in political and public advocacy at a national level. She was also presented awards for: Profiles of Success Hall of Fame Award, Outstanding Contributions for Women leading in the Twenty-First Century by Federal Women Employee’s Association; the Leadership for New Millennium Award by the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County Hispanic Networks Association; Arizona Diamondbacks Mother of the Year Award, Tucson Hispanic Coalition Leadership Award, LULAC Outstanding Community Leaders Award and the Outstanding Humanitarian Hall of Fame Award as alumna of St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Linda is married to former Senator Jaime Gutierrez of Tucson. They have four children Frank, Alexis, Jaime and Christopher.

Dorothy Finley, Lifelong Service Medallion Award

Ms. Finley earned a BA and M.Ed. from the University of Arizona and turned her knowledge into a passion for education and community service. She has dedicated a lifetime to serving this community with her work on numerous boards and commissions but also her leadership ability in running a business. Dorothy and Harold Finley founded Finley Distributing, in 1948. After Harold’s death, Dorothy managed the company until her recent decision to retire. She is known for her no-nonsense business acumen and ability to problem solve, but most importantly for her willingness to develop collaborative efforts for worthy causes such as developing girls into women leaders. Her activities and service are too lengthy to list, but HPAC acknowledges her commitment to our community in such areas as education, mental health and our culture.

San Miguel High School – The Community Service Organization Award

San Miguel High School provides a Catholic learning community which empowers youth from underserved families, a nurturing and Christian environment that integrates rigorous academics with practical experience. San Miguel High School has created a learning community where students from families of limited financial means have the opportunity to develop their full potential, preparing students not just for college and careers but also for self-sufficiency. Students are taught to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams. They form new identities as citizens and professionals. Students take a full college preparatory course load while completing internships, working in corporations and earning almost sixty percent of their school tuition.

Edmund Márquez, Lucero “Rising Star” Award

UA Alum Edmund Márquez owned and operated the first new car store on the Southside of Tucson, and the first Mexican-American owned new car store in the history of Tucson. He has a long history of service to important causes in our community. He is a member of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Mulcahy YMCA Board and the Pima Community College Foundation and is on the advisory boards of the Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Blake Foundation. He is the President of the Greater Tucson Leadership Council and sits on many prestigious boards across the Nation.

Mr. Edmund Marquez was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1973 to a loving and supportive family. Edmund comes from a long line of business owners and entrepreneurs. Edmund’s grandfather owned a tortilla factory, barber shop, insurance agency, restaurant, and Kirby vacuum cleaner store. Edmund’s father owned an Allstate insurance agency for 30 years, his mother currently owns and operates a theater company, and his sister owns a business brokerage.

He first attended Pima Community College before moving on to the University of Arizona. At the U of A, Edmund was an active member in his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, where he was the pledge-class President.

In November of 2004, Edmund was named the Hispanic Businessman of the Year by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Tucson. Edmund, age 30 at the time, was the youngest businessman to ever be given this honor. He continues to own and operate his Allstate Insurance Agency, and is now the General Sales Manager for Thoroughbred Nissan, a locally owned store that has been in Tucson for the past 40 years.

Edmund enjoys spending time with his wife Wendy and his two kids Alyssa and Diego

Rigoberto López, Community Service Individual Award

Rigoberto López known as “Rigo” to his friends and family will be recognized for his dedication to Chicano issues, political action and community service. He is known as a positive force; always ready to help launch political careers and support community initiatives that will benefit our community. Rigo’s outstanding commitment to our community cannot go unnoticed. His exemplary community service and strong social advocacy has helped the Latino community including League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), State of Arizona, Pima County, City of South Tucson, City of Tucson, the Mexican Consulate, Primavera Foundation, John Valenzuela Youth Center, Las Artes Youth Center, Pima County Teen Center, Pueblo Gardens Neighborhood Association and the Michelle Maxwell Breast Cancer Fund.

Bernal Family, Special Recognition Award

HPAC’s special recognition awardees epitomize family, not only because they are a family, but they are in the true sense of the word a unit. The value of family is rich in the Hispanic culture and those family values are many times what encourages success and perseverance.

John and Teresa Bernal began their life together with limited resources yet managed to raise an exceptional family of six children, five of their six children are UA Alum and four also earned advanced degrees from UA. Their daughter Margarita became the first Latina City Magistrate in 1985. Mary Lou earned a Masters in Education and became a teacher, teaching high school in Yuma until she retired. John earned an MBA, is an engineer for city and county government who worked on border initiatives as an appointee of President Clinton. Armando taught high school students and went back to school to earn a Master of Library Science. Magdalena earned her RN and is retired after years of caring for the elderly and Martin earned an MFA at UA and worked for 20 years at Channel 9 in Tucson.

This family has been raised to appreciate the value of education and hard work that benefits the community. They are wonderful role models for young people who feel challenged by their limited means and the need to work long hours to pay for their education. They are evidence that hard work and dedication pays off. They are a Family!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

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***PHOTOS AND WEB DESIGN BY ANTONIO ARROYO***

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Automatic Slide Show