ALCOAST 414/08
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2008 NATIONAL LATINA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
1. IT IS A PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT DR. MARIA-PAZ U. SMITH,
CDR, OF COAST GUARD TRAINING CENTER, YORKTOWN AND MR. ERNESTO
RIVERA OF COAST GUARD AIRCRAFT REPAIR AND SUPPLY CENTER (ARSC),
HAVE BEEN SELECTED, RESPECTIVELY, AS COAST GUARDS MILITARY AND
CIVILIAN 2008 NATIONAL LATINA SYMPOSIUM AWARD WINNERS.
2. THE NATIONAL LATINA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECOGNIZES THE
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MILITARY AND CIVILIAN MEMBERS TO
THE EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY.
3. CDR SMITHS ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE, VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR THE
USPHS HUMANITARIAN MISSION ABOARD THE USS BOXER TO PERU TREATING
120 PATIENTS IN FIVE DAYS AS A MEMBER OF THE LIGA FLYING DOCTORS OF
MERCY, ORGANIZING CLUB DE HISPANO PARLANTES TO MENTOR IN THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY, SERVING AS PRECEPTOR FOR THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, AND FREQUENTLY PROMOTING VALUE AND IMPORTANCE
OF A MILITARY CAREER.
4. MR. RIVERAS ACCOMPLISHEMENTS INCLUDE VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO
HISPANICS IN ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA AREA TO INCLUDE LOCAL
SCHOOLS AND THE VIRGINIA BEACH CATHOLIC CHURCH SOUP KITCHEN,
SERVICE AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN HISPANIC RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL
OFFICIALS, AND A VOLUNTEER TRANSLATOR FOR ALBEMARLE HOSPITAL, THE
CITY PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND THE ELIZABETH CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT. MR. RIVERA IS THE ARSC HISPANIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
MANAGER AND IS A COAST GUARD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE LEAGUE OF
UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC), THE AMERICAN UNITED
HERMANOS UNIDOS AND THE NORTH CAROLINA LATINO GOVERNORS COUNCIL.
5. THE AWARDS BOARD SELECTED THESE TWO AWARD WINNERS FROM A FIELD
OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED NOMINEES AND CONGRATULATES ALL NOMINEES FOR
TIRELESS WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
6. CDR SMITH AND MR. RIVERA WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE 5TH ANNUAL
NATIONAL LATINA SYMPOSIUM, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON SEPTEMBER 5,
2008.
7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL LATINA SYMPOSIUM IS
LOCATED AT HTTP://NLS.LATINASTYLE.COM.
8. TERRI A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.