On February 21, Hostos honored four distinguished Dominican-American leaders and academic achievers as part of the College’s Dominican Heritage Month festivities. Recognized were: Hon. Carmen De La Rosa, NYS Assembly member; Beatríz Díaz Taveras, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York; Mónica Lockhart, Office of the Dominican Republic Consulate General in New York; Juan Villar, principal, High School for Media and Communications; and Hostos students Joanne Grell and Golvis Tavarez, recipients of the Pediatrics 2000 Scholarship, Pediatrics 2000/Juan Bosch Scholarships.
Special guests at this incredible event included Hon. Karines Reyes, NYS Assembly Member of the 87th District and Hon. Victor Pichardo, Assemblyman of the 86th District.
Assemblyman Victor M. Pichardo, Assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa, and U.S. House of Representatives Member Adriano Espaillat recognized the College with a special proclamation presented to Hostos President David Gómez.
Awards program presenters included Cira Ángeles, Hostos Foundation Board member; Milady Báez, former NYC DOE Deputy Chancellor; Eddie Silverio, executive director of Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center; María Lizardo, Executive Director of NMIC; Carmen Rojas, President of the Parents Association of District 7.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Hostos President’s Office; the Division of Institutional Advancement; Inka Cola; Dr. Juan Tapia Mendoza, founder and sponsor of the Pediatrics 2000 Scholarship; the Dominican Studies Association; and Mr. Iván Domínguez for coordinating the cultural presentation of the Alianza Dominicana dancers.