Pasadena’s Latino Students Honored for Achievements, Successes in Recognition Ceremony

Sunday’s recognition of the accomplishments of the Latino student community in Pasadena Unified School District may have been the largest ceremony in recent memory – one attendee said that 200 students from six area high schools participated.

Music, dance, and speeches marked the annual event, where Rose Portillo, actress, writer and director, served as the event emcee.

A blessing by Aztec Dance Yankuititl opened the celebration of the personal successes and academic achievements of the Latino students of the Pasadena Unified School District. The Pasadena High School Chorus and Pasadena High School Spanish Club both performed during the event and to close the event, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez gave the despidida, or dismissal.

Three students from Pasadena, Blair and Muir High Schools took to the stage to speak about their experiences as Latino high school students, their high school experiences and their hopes for the future. The three student speakers, Lesly Bermudez, Stephanie Nunez Dominguez and Kimberly Meija, all plan to study topics related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) when they attend college in the fall.

Salomón G. Dávila, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College gave the keynote speech.

Students received $7,500 in scholarships, including six $1,000 scholarships from COPA, two $500 scholarships from the Pasadena Mexican American History Association and $500 from the Pasadena Latino Coalition.

For more about the Pasadena Latino Coalition visit www.pasadenalatinocoalition.org.