[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E539-E540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HISPANIC COORDINATING COUNCIL AWARDS

                                 ______


                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 13, 1996, numerous 
outstanding Hispanics from Indiana's First Congressional District were 
honored for their notable contributions to northwest Indiana. Student 
Recognition Awards, a President's Award, a Community Outreach Award, a 
Cesar Chavez award and an Outstanding Family Award were presented by 
the Hispanic Coordinating Council during a banquet held at the American 
Legion Post No. 369 in East Chicago, IN.
  Sixty Hispanic students representing thirty northwest Indiana and 
northeast Illinois high schools were recognized for their academic and 
athletic achievement. The students who received awards for Outstanding 
Academic Achievement include: Melissa Hogg, Andrean High School; 
Angelica Quiroz, Calumet High School; April Ybarra, Clark Middle/Senior 
High School; Leandro Cortez, Jr., East Chicago Central High School; 
Fidel Lopez, Edison Junior/Senior High School; Laura Rivera, Gavit 
Middle/High School; Susan Barriga, Griffith Senior High School; Tina 
Rongel, Hammond High School; Iris Sanchez, Hanover Central High School; 
Raymond Padron, Hebron Junior/Senior High School; Nicole Yadron, 
Highland High School; Nina Ramos, Hobart High School; Elvin Roman, 
Horace Mann High School; Megan Mendoza, Lowell High School; Carmen 
Bonilla and Robert Martinez, Merrillville High School; Rebekah Perez, 
Morton High School; Christopher Garcia and Odette Gutierrez, Munster 
High School; James Espinoza, Portage High School; Patrica Cisneros and 
Javier Fuentes, River Forest High School; Mabel Lamas and Allison 
Karas, Thornton Fractional North High School; Leslie Cruz, Thornton 
Fractional South High School; William Marquez and Alison DeSchamp, 
Valparaiso High School; and Santiago Rodrigues, Jr., Whiting Middle/
High School.
  The students who received awards for Outstanding Athletic Achievement 
include: Matthew Murawski, Andrean High School; Israel Anthony Roman, 
Bishop Noll Institute; Daniel Mendez, Boone Grove High School; Seleno 
Gomez, Calumet High School; Manuel Amezcua, Clark Middle/Senior High 
School; Paul Maldonado and Frank Chabes, East Chicago Central High 
School; Nick Reyes, Edison Junior/Senior High School; Enrique Luna, 
Gavit Middle/Senior High School; Stefanie Dominquez, Griffith Senior 
High School; Diana Cruz, Hammond High School; Jennifer Conley, Hanover 
Central High School; Rachel Guzman, Highland High School; Kristopher 
Kingery, Hobart High School; Jose Fogleman, Lowell High School; Mike 
Villanueva, Merrillville High School; David Mendoza, Morton High 
School; Alaina Altschu and Derek Serna, Munster High School; Nicholas 
Munoz and Leroy Vega, Portage High School; Mellissa Piunti, River 
Forest High School; and Luis Dominguez, Whiting Middle/Senior High 
School.
  Those students who received awards for being an Outstanding Student 
include: William Maldonado, East Chicago Central High School; Zack 
Escobedo, Lake Ridge Middle School; Thomas Bonez, Portage High School; 
and Jason Lee Pedroza, River Forest High School.
  The Council also presented the Outstanding Family Award to Jose and 
Josephine Valtierra and their 11 children. This distinguished family 
was carefully selected from many qualified families on the basis of 
their unity and dedication to one another's successes. The Senoras of 
Yesteryear received the President's Award. This Senoras of Yesteryear 
honors women

[[Page E540]]

who have recorded and documented achievements of Hispanic families in 
East Chicago and the Indiana Harbor Region. The Community Organization 
Award was presented to the Hammond Hispanic Community Committee. Juan 
Andrade, Jr. earned the Cesar Chavez Award for co-founding the Midwest-
Northeast Voter Registration Education Project. Juan was also recently 
named one of the ``100 Most Influential Hispanics in America'' by the 
Hispanic Business Magazine.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in applauding all of the award recipients chosen by the Hispanic 
Coordinating Council. I feel that all of the participants are most 
deserving of the honors that were bestowed upon them. Moreover, I would 
like to commend the Hispanic Coordinating Council, its President, Ben 
Luna, and all of the Council members for committing themselves to 
preserving their culture. It is my privilege to commend them on their 
achievements.

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