Reconocimiento and scholarship Awards

The Reconocimiento and Scholarship Awards (RaSA) is our annual signature event that highlights the achievements of local Latinas. Typically held during lunch time, RaSA brings people together to honor the women who receive the Latinas Unidas Reconocimiento Awards and the Latinas Unidas Scholarships. 

Reconocimiento Awards are granted in the following categories: 

1. Professional Achievement 
2. Inspirational Leadership
3. Volunteer Service
4. Youth Latina Leadership (13 – 17 years old)

Click here to submit a nomination for the Reconocimiento Awards 2024 online.

Download the nomination form to print, fill up, and send by mail: MS Word or PDF format.

Awards Process

Nominations for the Reconocimiento Awards open around the end of Summer or beginning of Fall, for several weeks. After the deadline to submit, a panel of judges (non-board members) reviews the nominations and select winners.

Before we make the public announcement, we traditionally coordinate with the people who nominated the winners, to give them the good news in a friendly surprise visit. The awards are then presented at our annual RaSA event.

Past recipients of the Reconocimiento Awards

2024

• Professional Achievement: Sandra Chevalier-Blackman
• Inspirational Leadership: Arline Villa-Rubio
• Volunteer Service: Ivette Alvarez
• Youth Latina Leadership: Adriana Morales

2023

• Professional Achievement: Hon. María Cubillos-Reed
• Inspirational Leadership: Irene Sánchez
• Volunteer Service: Estela Vélez Upegui 
• Youth Latina Leadership: Kaysali Morales

2022

• Professional Achievement: Dr. Miriam Vazquez
• Inspirational Leadership: Mai Ho
• Volunteer Service: Gildred Milagros Aponte
• Youth Latina Leadership: Ana Fontan

2021

• Professional Achievement: Jessica Guzmán-Rea
• Inspirational Leadership: Telva Olivares
• Volunteer Service: Cynthia Rochet
• Youth Latina Leadership: Arianee Ortiz

2019

• Professional Achievement: Maritza C. Buitrago
• Inspirational Leadership: Lisa Martínez DeVinney
• Volunteer Service: Annette Jiménez Gleason
• Young Latina Leader: Ariely Cortés

2018 – 25th Anniversary

• Professional Achievement: Arline Santiago
• Inspirational Leadership: Juanita Rodriguez
• Volunteer Service: Suliany Vargas
• Young Latina Leader: Adriana Mendoza

2016

• Professional Achievement: Hilda Rosario Escher
• Inspirational Leadership: Librada Paz
• Volunteer Service: Tabita Torres
• Young Latina Leader: Kari-Elyssa Cepero

2015

• Professional Achievement: Stephanie Paredes
• Inspirational Leadership: Beverly Sirvent
• Volunteer Service: Sady Fisher
• Young Latina Leader: Mayra Rodriguez

2013-14

• Career Achievement: Mercedes Vasquez Simmons
• Leadership Achievement: Annette Ramos
• Volunteer Achievement Award: Gloria Sabastro
• Young Latina Leader: Natalie Hoppe

2012

• Career Achievement: Antonia Custodio
• Leadership Achievement: Flor M. Colon
• Volunteer Achievement Award: Yesenia Ramos-Torres
• Young Latina Leader: Laura Aguilera

2011

• Career Achievement: Belimar Velazquez
• Leadership Achievement: Melisza Campos
• Volunteer Achievement Award: Ineabelle Geena Cruz
• Young Latina Leader: Valeria Delgado

2010

• Career Achievement: Sara Pabon Jordan
• Leadership Achievement: Marisol Ramos-Lopez
• Volunteer Achievement Award: Diana M. Irizarry
• Young Latina Leader: Nicolette Kane

2009

• Career Achievement: Diana Hernández
• Inspirational Leadership: Norma M. Holland
• Volunteer Service: Olga Martínez
• Young Latina Leader: Marina Ramos

2008 – Quinceañera

• Career Achievement: Gladys Pedraza-Burgos
• Leadership Achievement: Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez
• Volunteer Service: M. Celeste Amaral
• Young Latina Leader: Angie Rivera

2007

• Professional Achievement: Dr. Gladys Velarde
• Inspirational Leadership Achievement: Salvadora Guzmán
• Volunteer Service: Leida Martínez
• Young Latina Leader: Wanda Liz Pérez

2006

• Career Achievement: Elizabeth Ortiz
• Leadership Service: Elizabeth “Libby” Adessa
• Volunteer Service: Marisol Rivera
• Young Latina Leadership: Lisamarie Valentín

2005

• Career Achievement: Dr. Tina Pereda
• Leadership Service: Rose Mary Villarrubia-Izzo
• Volunteer Service: Ana Galindo
• Young Latina Leadership: Stephanie Adriana Hoppe

2004

• Career Achievement: Brenda Pacheco Rivera
• Leadership Service: Gloriela Burns
• Volunteer Service: Ida Perez
• Youth Leadership: Brandy Soublet

2003

• Career Achievement: Diani Torres
• Leadership Service: Vilma Morrow
• Volunteer Service: Miriam Miranda-Jurado
• Youth Leadership: Jacelyn Johnson Ortiz

2002

• Career Achievement: Grace Tillinghast
• Leadership Service: Dr. Luz Cruz
• Volunteer Service: Sylvia Boiano
• Youth Leadership: Daiana Rivera

Scholarships are awarded with funds raised by the organization and its partners.  To apply for a scholarship, or for more information about the scholarship, click on the link below to go to the Scholarship web page. Information about the Latinas Unidas scholarship, can be found here.