Stars Among Us

January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

Congratulations! ¡Felicitaciones!

November 2009

To the recipients of the 2009 Reconocimiento Awards: Diana Hernández, Norma M. Holland, Olga Martínez, Marina Ramos.

 

October 2009

To Peggy Martinez, as her artwork has been selected to participate in this year's Benches on Parade, a community-wide art project in the Rochester Area to benefit local charities. An accomplished artist, Peggy is also Branch Manager at Advantage Federal Credit Union and Membership Chair of Latinas Unidas.

 

To Xena M. Almonte, inducted to the National Junior Honor Society. Xena has held honors consistently since kindergarten and has never missed an honor roll. While she attends East Irondequoit Middle School, Xena is also enrolled in regent courses at the High School level. Xena is very active in sports, dance and is soon to be a Math tutor to 6th grade students. Xena has also helped this year's Reconocimiento Awards Committee.

 

To Monica Miranda Smalls, elected President-Elect for the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), a professional organization for individuals concerned with the advisement of fraternities and sororities. Monica is director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs in the Office of the Dean of Students at the University of Rochester and she has been of great assistance during the annual ¡Soy Unica!¡Soy Latina! Rally.
Read complete press release from the University of Rochester here. [Photo courtesy of the University of Rochester]

<*Back to top*>

 

September 2009

To Grace Tillinghast, elected Chairperson of the Rochester Hispanic Business Association (RHBA). Tillinghast is co-owner of The Battery, a baseball and softball training facility in Gates. She is a charter member of RHBA and has been their Membership Chair for the last two years. In 2003, she was named Hispanic Business Person of the Year and she is one of the Latinas Unidas founder members. Grace currently serves in the Board of Trustees of Monroe Community College.

 

August 2009

To Daisy Rivera Algarin, honored with the “175 Empowered Women in Rochester’s History” award by the ladies of the Rochester Genesee Valley Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. Daisy is an Economic Development Marketing Specialist for the City of Rochester, where she works with local small businesses, and she is also the President of Latinas Unidas.

<*Back to top*>

 

To Maria Connie Castañeda, new Mayor of Brockport, NY. Ms. Castaneda's is a story of personal success. Daughter of farmer migrants, moved to Brockport at age 6 when family decided to become permanent. She went from not speaking English, to State University College at Brockport graduate, to now Mayor of the Village of Brockport, joining a handful of people of Latin heritage to hold a leadership position in a municipality in the state of New York.
Read article published in the Democrat and Chronicle.

 

July 2009

To Jackie Ortiz, selected Hispanic Business Person of the Year 2009 by the Rochester Hispanic Business Association. Jackie is an active participant in the local Hispanic community, especially supporting youth programs. She a State Farm Insurance Agent, and is also the Committee Chair of the local 2009 Puerto Rican Parade.

<*Back to top*>

 

June 2009

To Annette Jiménez, reporter for El Mensajero Católico, winner of three international awards from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada: Best Newswriting, Best In-Depth Analysis, Best Individual Excellence, during their 2009 Catholic Press Award. [Submitted by Rosemarie Gutierrez]
See the winners list here (PDF).

To Belén Colón, retiring after 35 Years with RCSD and 40 Years of community service. She has been an influential participant in the local Hispanic community, and her friends and colleagues organized a special retirement party in her honor earlier this month. Belén is also one of the founders of Latinas Unidas, 15 years ago. [Submitted by Mercedes Simmons]

<*Back to top*>

 

May 2009

To Grace Tillinghast, first Latina to serve in the Board of Trustees of Monroe Community College. Nominated by Monroe County Legislature President Wayne Zyra, Grace was appointed for the seat by the County Legislature on their May 27 session. Grace Tillinghast is Membership Chair of the Rochester Hispanic Business Association and co-owner of The Battery.

To Judge Sonia Sotomayor, for her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would be the first Hispanic and Latina to serve in the highest court of the nation. Although not local, Judge Sotomayor deserves to be recognized here for being an inspiration for all of us as Latina women. She helps us show our young girls there are no limits when you prepare yourself, work and persevere to accomplish your dreams.

To Guadalupe Nuñez, for the publishing of her book "I Scream Soup". Lupe, as she is known among friends, is a Rochesterian who wrote this inspirational book as a way to cope after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. [Submitted by Ivette Torres]

To Ellie Garbanzo, Mila Delgado Sutton and Jilese Rodriguez, winners of the writing contest "What Does Being Latina Mean to Me?". Read more in the contest page here.

<*Back to top*>

 

March 2009

To Iveth Reynolds, featured in Latina Style Magazine in their March issue. The article titled "Find Success Online" is about 3 Latina women who have succeeded professionally and in their personal lives. Iveth is CEO of Tri-Mar Consulting, Inc, a national staffing and recruitment firm, VP of the Northern New York Region of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) and member of the Latinas Unidas Board of Directors.
Click here to read the article.

 

To Ana Roca-Castro, CEO of FamilyEden.com, featured in the Rochester Business Journal. The article tells how her original idea of keeping families connected through social media attracted giants Wal-Mart, Macy's, Toshiba and others and developed into a 7-employee company, now located at the High Tech Rochester incubator in Henrietta. Ana is a United Nations project manager currently in sabbatical.

<*Back to top*>

 

February 2009

To Kelly Tovar-Mullaney, president of Working Art Media, as guest columnist in the D&C Sunday column "Women at Work". In this issue of the column, titled "Social media a great way to connect with clients", Mullaney wrote about the social media phenomenom, with tips and examples to get you started. Click here to read the column.

To Damaris Rivera, selected as a contestant for American Idol in the preliminary auditions that took place in Puerto Rico, so she is going to Hollywood! Damaris is a talented singer and has participated in several local events. She also owns Pinky's Pet Connection.

<*Back to top*>

 

January 2009

To Annette Carpenter, promoted to Supervisor Field Customer Service at Rochester Gas and Electric (RGE).

To Jackie Ortiz, for the opening of her new office in Downtown Rochester.

<*Back to top*>

 

We celebrate and highlight the achievements of our members and all Latina women in our community. Our pride on their success does not constitute an official endorsement as the Latinas Unidas organization has no political affiliations.

 

Archives:

Read about more Stars Among Us during 2008

Read about more Stars Among Us during 2007

Read about more Stars Among Us during 2006

<*Back to top*>