by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
At Friday’s Eighth Annual Scholarship Luncheon hosted by the Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board, 17 students were recognized for their academic achievement. Each was also awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the board made up of business and community leaders from the Hispanic community.
“We’re the group that provides a conduit between the Hispanic community and city government,” said Nelson Cuba, who chairs the Advisory Board. “This is our way of recognizing the accomplishments of these Hispanic students.”
Cuba also thanked the event’s sponsors and mentioned in particular Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and Aetna.
“They compete against each other in the marketplace, but they both believe in education for kids,” he said.
Mayor John Peyton pointed out that the Hispanic community is Jacksonville’s fastest-growing group and now represents six percent of Duval County’s population.
“Empowering this segment of our community means we’re all better served. The Advisory Board is a great partnership to help grow our economy, improve public safety and increase literacy,” he said.
Peyton also praised the participants in the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Program that includes 39 certified Hispanic-owned businesses that have received more than $6 million in City Contract awards.
“Providing government work can be a catalyst to develop even more business for the Hispanic community,” said Peyton.
2007 scholarship recipients
University of North Florida
Sebastian Naim
Yuriattni Vidal
Ximena Vergara
Nora Wilson-Cardona
Sonya Jersy
Jennifer Evans
Jennifer Seco
Mathew Hernandez
Ileana Olmos-Sparks
Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Guillermo Orozco
Mari C. Pena
Idalmis S. Rios
Michael Rivera
Jennette Velez
Jacksonville University
Elizabeth Cotto
Shane Salazar
Florida Coastal School of Law
Crystal Villasenor