City of Tulsa

Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission to Present Tomás Rivera Latinx Excellence Awards in Education on May 8

5/8/2025

This article was archived on 5/11/2025

The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission is proud to announce the awards for scholars and community heroes as part of the Tomás Rivera Latinx Excellence in Education Ceremony, honoring scholars and heroes in education who are making a positive impact on the Hispanic/Latinx community of Tulsa.

The ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at Central Library, Pocahontas Greadington Learning and Creativity Center, located at 400 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 74103. The event is free and open to the public, and much of the ceremony will be conducted in Spanish with English translation available.

Mayor Nichols will be one of several speakers during the ceremony. This year’s keynote speaker will be Cynthia Jasso, Senior Program Officer at George Kaiser Family Foundation and leader of their Elevate East initiative.

The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission’s Education Committee selected the award winners from among open nominations received through an online nomination form. The following categories and awardees are as follows:

Scholars

Hispanic/Latinx students in their senior year of high school with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, with 90-percent attendance in the first semester of their senior year and who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in extracurricular activities both in school and in the community.

Heroes in Education

Outstanding citizens who work actively to support the Hispanic/Latinx community in education as a volunteer, parent, exceptional teacher, educational researcher, tutor and mentor, administrative staff and/or community member.

SCHOLARS

Andrew Jacob Jimenez, Tulsa Honor Academy
Ashley Cisneros Bailon, Nathan Hale High School
Dania Natalie Guevara, Tulsa Honor Academy
Dina Judith Martinez, Will Rogers College High School
Edson Garcia Lira, Tulsa Honor Academy
Evelyn Munguia-Arias, East Central High School
Ezri Diaz, Tulsa Honor Academy
Fabian Alejandro Hernandez Gamarra, Tulsa Honor Academy
Isaac Daniel Arrieche Medina, Union High School
Jaelyne Esmeralda Pineda, Tulsa Honor Academy
Jared Bailon, Tulsa Honor Academy
Jose Gabriel Hernandez Garcia, Bixby High School
Josué Francisco Del Rio Salas, Union High School
Judith Aburto Lemus, McLain High School
Karen Hernandez Garcia, Will Rogers College High School
Kemerlin Bravo-Vasquez, Tulsa Honor Academy
Laisha Cisneros, Tulsa Honor Academy
Leon Hernandez, Will Rogers College High School
Leslie Benítez Durán, Kipp Tulsa University Prep High School
Lizbeth Avelar Sanchez, Tulsa Honor Academy
Lupita Yoseline Estrada Garcia, Tulsa Honor Academy
Mariana Aguirre Vallin, Tulsa Honor Academy
Melida Luna, Nathan Hale High School
Moncerrat Perez Garcia, Tulsa Honor Academy
Neybeth Perez, Tulsa Honor Academy
Paola Salas, Tulsa Honor Academy
Polett Conaway, Will Rogers College High School
Ramiro Avelar-Flores, Nathan Hale High School
Yahir Escobedo-Flores, Tulsa Honor Academy High School

HEROES IN EDUCATION

Alfredo Marcelo, Growing Together
Amy Ruiz, Jenks Public Schools
Dr. Debbie Deibert, Tulsa Community College
Fran Trujillo, DNP, Trujillo Multi-Healthcare
Jesse Guardiola, Tulsa Area United Way
Kara L. Saunders, Union Public Schools
Ruth Viridiana Cruces Peña, Tulsa Public School
Salli Wandke, Tulsa Community College & Tulsa Intercultural Association
Sarah Morgan-Forbes, Union High School
Sahmira Izaguirre Gallegos, SI MARKETING

About the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission

The Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission (GTAHLAC) is a group of mayoral and county appointed volunteers established by City Ordinance. GTAHLAC acts in an advisory and advocacy capacity to the greater Tulsa area to encourage and promote unity, purpose, and understanding among the Hispanic/Latinx people of the greater Tulsa area. The Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission is one of six Title V Commissions that represent and advocate for women, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and human rights in Tulsa.

Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission to Present Tomás Rivera Latinx Excellence Awards in Education on May 8

5/8/2025

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