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Governor Crist Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month Contest Winners

Released: October 14, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the winners of the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award and student essay contest. The educators and students are being honored at this evening’s annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, “Honoring a Legacy, Shaping Florida’s Future,” at the Governor’s Mansion. Joining Governor Crist are husband-and-wife artists Gustavo Castillo and Carmen Lagos, whose paintings depict Florida’s vibrant Hispanic culture and are featured at the Capitol during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I applaud all contest participants for showcasing their exceptional talents, and congratulate the winners of this year’s contest,” said Governor Crist. “The Sunshine State’s diverse Hispanic community contributes greatly to our economic and cultural vitality, and Hispanic Heritage Month is an outstanding opportunity to highlight individuals who embody the spirit of this unique community.”

Three outstanding Hispanic educators are being honored with the Excellence in Education Award for their contributions to education in Florida. Each will receive an award check for $1,500. The winners are as follows:

  • Mrs. Barbara Jarrett, Valrico Elementary School, Valrico
  • Mr. Hector Veras, Crystal Lake Community Middle School, Pompano Beach
  • Mr. Salvador Mucino, Wellington Community High School, Wellington

Also, three students are being recognized for their outstanding essays. The essay topic this year was, "In what ways does the foundation of Florida's Hispanic legacy help to build the future of Florida's innovation economy?" Each student will receive a laptop computer from Dell and a full four-year tuition scholarship from the Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation to the Florida state college or university of their choice. The winners are as follows:

  • Alexis Rosa, DevonAire K-8 Center, Miami
  • Alexis Tahmassebi, DeLaura Middle School, Melbourne
  • William Velasquez, Ridgewood High School, Pasco County

This evening’s event is made possible by sponsors OHL USA Inc., Prudential, the Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and in-kind sponsor the Florida Department of State. Also featured tonight will be Tango Sur, a five-piece tango orchestra from Tallahassee. Tango Sur is best recognized for its traditional and Nuevo forms of tango music.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Governor’s Mansion Foundation and Volunteer Florida Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization working to further social service initiatives championed by Governor Crist.

TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today invited Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades to participate in the sixth annual Florida Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. The Governor also encouraged students, parents, teachers and principals to nominate full-time educators in elementary, middle or high schools for the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. The contests are the first in a month-long schedule of events planned to commemorate Florida's Hispanic heritage. The theme for this year's celebration is "Honoring a Legacy, Shaping Florida's Future."

"The culture, history and economy of our state has benefited from the expertise and contributions of Florida's Hispanic population for nearly five centuries," Governor Crist said. "The legacy of Florida's Hispanic heritage has helped make our state a national leader and is helping build Florida's future."

About the Essay Contest

The essay contest is open to all Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades. One winner will be selected from each of the three grade-level categories, elementary (grades K-5), middle (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Winners will receive a full four-year tuition scholarship to a Florida college or university of their choice, provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Essays should answer the question: "In what ways does the foundation of Florida's Hispanic legacy help to build the future of Florida's innovation economy?"

Guidelines

  • Entries must be mailed to Executive Office of the Governor: Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, Suite LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, postmarked by Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
  • Each student may enter only one essay, no longer than 500 words and typed or handwritten in print, rather than cursive writing.
  • Essays must include the student's name, home address, telephone number, school the student attends, grade level and essay title.
  • Essay must be accompanied by a parental waiver form, which can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.

About the Excellence in Education Award

Governor Crist's annual Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all Hispanic, full time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary (K-5) teacher, one middle school (6-8) teacher and one high school (9-12) teacher. Winners will receive a check for $1,500.

Guidelines

  • Nomination forms must be mailed to Executive Office of the Governor: Excellence in Education Award Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, and postmarked by midnight of Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Forms can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.
  • Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent or student.

About Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide and begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico achieved independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in the United States since 1974, when President Gerald Ford issued a Presidential Proclamation extending Hispanic Heritage Week into a month-long celebration.

Essay contest winners and award-winning teachers will be notified the week of October 6, 2008. Awards will be presented at the Governor's annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Tallahassee in October.

Additional information about Florida's Hispanic heritage, contests and other related events is available on the Web site www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.