[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 40 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HISPANICS HONORED FOR THEIR NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTHWEST INDIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 1997

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 12, 1997, numerous 
outstanding Hispanics from Indiana's First Congressional District will 
be honored for their notable contributions to northwest Indiana. 
Student recognition certificates, a President's Award, a Cesar Chavez 
Community Service Award, and an Outstanding Family Award will be 
presented by the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council during 
a banquet held at the American Legion Post No. 369 in East Chicago, IN.
  Hispanic students representing northwest Indiana and northeast 
Illinois high schools will be recognized for academic and athletic 
achievement. The students who will receive awards for outstanding 
academic achievement include: Christina Sanchez and Neil Sharp, Andrean 
High School; Christine Mendoza, Calumet High School; Christine Siordia, 
Chesterton High School; Heather Vela, Donald E. Gavit High School; 
Sandra Martinez, East Chicago Central High School; Michael Soto, George 
Rogers Clark High School; Deanna Westerfield, Griffith High School; 
Diana Nevarez, Hammond High School; Christopher Calderon, Highland High 
School; Eric Chavez, Lake Central High School; Michelle Perez, 
Merrillville High School; Bethany Diaz, Morton High School; Jeanette 
Hernandez, Portage High School; Jesse Cisneros, River Forest High 
School; Elisa Maria Paramo, TF South High School; Kristina Vega, Thomas 
A. Edison Junior/Senior High School; Mike Cortez, Thornton Fractional 
North High School; Meghan Dougherty, Valparaiso High School; Antoinette 
Cardenas, West Side High School; Heather Trojnar, Whiting High School; 
and Jesse Flores, William A. Wirt High School.
  Students who will recieve awards for outstanding athletic achievement 
include: Nick Botts, Calumet High School; Brian Osan, Chesterton High 
School; Marco Lecea, Donald E. Gavit High School; Joel Rodriguez, East 
Chicago Central High School; Francisco Rodriguez, George Rogers Clark 
High School; Daniel Guerrero, Griffith High School; Christopher Moore, 
Hammond High School; Tony Elder, Highland High School; Vincent Sess, 
Lake Central High School; Jessica Vargas, Merrillville High School; 
Jason Mendoza, Morton High School; Leroy Vega, Portage High School; 
Michael Cortez, River Forest High School; Joe Yanez, Thomas A. Edison 
Junior/Senior High School; Antonio Diaz, Thornton Fractional North High 
School; and Jorge Del Real, Whiting High School.
  The council will also present the Outstanding Family Award to the 
Rosillo family. This distinguished family was carefully selected from 
many qualified families on the basis of their unity and dedication to 
one another's successes. In addition, Benjamin T. Luna will be 
presented with the President's Award. This honor is given to an 
individual exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills by means of 
guiding and mentoring the Hispanic community at large. Also, Medi-MEX, 
Inc., a nonprofit organization which provides medical services to the 
poor in Mexico, will receive the Cesar Chavez Community Service Award. 
The Cesar Chavez award is presented to an agency or group of 
individuals which have made noticeable contributions to the Hispanic 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in applauding all of the award recipients chosen by the Northwest 
Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council. All of these individuals are 
most deserving of the honors bestowed upon them. Moreover, I would like 
to commend the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council, its 
president, Socorro M. Roman, and all of the council members for 
committing themselves to the preservation of their culture. It is my 
privilege to recognize them for their outstanding achievements.

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