ALCOAST 137/08
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2008 CIVIL RIGHTS NATIONAL IMAGE AWARD WINNER
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE AND CONGRATULATE STOREKEEPER THIRD
CLASS (SK3) BELEN GUZMAN OF COAST GUARD SECTOR FIELD OFFICE (SFO)
VALDEZ, AK. AS THE COAST GUARD WINNER OF THE 2008 NATIONAL IMAGE
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD.
2. SK3 GUZMAN WAS SELECTED FOR HER INSPIRATION AND LEADERSHIP,
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND INNOVATIVE EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY
OF LIFE OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL IN THE REMOTE ALASKAN COMMUNITY OF
VALDEZ. SK3 GUZMAN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FORMING THE VALDEZ AREA
SINGLE SAILORS ASSOCIATION (SSA), WHERE AS CO-CHAIRPERSON SHE
SPONSORED INNOVATIVE AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL
ACTIVITIES TO THE USE OF ALCOHOL. AS RECORDER AND MEMBER ON THE
HUMAN RELATIONS COUNCIL, SK3 GUZMAN REVITALIZED EFFORTS TO PROMOTE
CULTURAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ETHNIC CELEBRATIONS THAT
RESULTED IN A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE
IMPORTANCE DIVERSE CULTURES BRING TO OUR SERVICE.  IN ADDITION TO
HER COAST GUARD DUTIES, SK3 GUZMAN IS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL TO
VALDEZ YOUTH BY VOLUNTEERING AS A BASKETBALL COACH AND MENTOR FOR
VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.  THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, SK3 GUZMAN
DISTINGUISHED HERSELF AS A SHIPMATE AND ROLE MODEL WHO EMBODIES THE
IDEALS AND PRINCIPLES THE NATIONAL IMAGE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
REPRESENTS.
3. SK3 GUZMAN WILL BE HONORED DURING THE 36TH ANNUAL NATIONAL
IMAGE, INC. MERITORIOUS SERVE AWARDS DINNER CEREMONY IN LAS VEGAS,
NV, ON 17 APRIL 2008.
4. T.A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
5. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.