[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  NORTHWEST INDIANA HISPANIC COORDINATING COUNCIL CELEBRATES ITS 11TH 
                             ANNUAL BANQUET

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 1999

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 30, 1999, numerous 
outstanding Hispanics from Indiana's First Congressional District will 
be honored for their notable contributions to Northwest Indiana. 
Several Hispanic students from local high schools as well as 
individuals and community organizations will be recognized at the 
Northwest Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council's 11th Annual Banquet. 
The Hispanic Coordinating Council consists of several organizations 
that have committed themselves to improving the quality of life for the 
Hispanic residents of Northwest Indiana as well as providing an 
effective avenue for promoting Hispanic interests and their shared 
cultural heritage.
  The students who will receive awards for Outstanding Academic 
Achievements include: Guillermo Amezcua, Clark High School; Crystal 
Bannister, Calumet High School; Alejandro Barraza, Thornton Fractional 
South; Patricia Campos, Andrean High School; Veronica Delgado, East 
Chicago Central High School, Adriana Dominguez, Whiting High School; 
Angela Espinoza, Indiana Academy; Nicholas Ferrer, Munster High School, 
Leonarda Gajardo, Bishop Noll High School, Esteban Gonzalez, Emerson 
School of Visual and Performing Arts; Melissa Hernandez, Morton High 
School; Linda Hinojosa, Merrillville High School; Adriana Lopez, Hobart 
High School; Samantha Martinez, Gavit High School; Cassandra Mateo, 
Portage High School; Amy Mendoza, Lowell High School; Angela Monsivais, 
Thomas A. Edison Jr.-Sr. High School; Danielle Ontiveros, Valparaiso 
High School; Eliezer Rolon, Thornton Fractional North; Lisa Russi, 
River Forest High School; Rebecca Spindler, Hanover Central Sr. High 
School; and Katharina Velez, Hammond High School.
  The students who will receive awards for Outstanding Athletic 
Achievements include: Vanessa Bustos, Thornton Fractional North; John 
Cantu, Alex Ramos, and Mark Gonzalez, Hobart High School; Rosalinda 
Cedano, Bishop Noll High School; Katherine Flores, Calumet High School; 
Enrique Fontanez III, Portage High School; Rafael Gonzalez, Central 
High School; Antonio Greppi, Andrean High School; Francisco Hernanadez, 
River Forest High School; Paul Navarro, Merrillville High School; Cesar 
Rodriguez, Whiting High School; Nicholas Rodriguez Gavit High School; 
Alfonso Salinas III, Hammond High School; Patrick Santana, Thomas A. 
Edison Jr.-Sr. High school,; Ruben Trevino, Munster High School; 
Alfonso Vargas IV, Morton High School; and Benjamin Ybarra, Clark-
Whiting High School.
  The Council will also present the President's Award to Lou and Stella 
Torres. Leonor Velasquez will receive the Cesar Chavez Exemplary 
Service Award. The Outstanding Family Award will go to Ralph and Thelma 
Mora. Michael Lopez of East Chicago, Indiana, will receive the 
Community Service Award for his dedication and contributions to 
Northwest Indiana. Finally, the Humanitarian Service Award will go to 
the following organizations: Ameritech, Asociacion Benefica Hijos De 
Borinquen, National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, and the Puerto 
Rican Parad and Cultural Committee of Northwest Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in applauding all 
of the award recipients chosen by the Northwest Indian 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 for committing itself 
to the preservation of the Hispanic culture. Without the contributions 
of Hispanic-Americans, the rich, diverse, ethnically flavored culture 
of Northwest Indian would not be complete.

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