Latino de Oro 2008 Awards

The event will start with a reception followed by a dinner buffet of typical Latin American foods, traditional costumes show, continuing with the Award Ceremony. The ground-breaking ceremony will be taped for local show "Viva Hartford," produced by Joyce Bolanos & Jose Vega from public channel 5. The awardees will pass along the "golden carpet" to enter the ceremony.

Please find below the list of winners that were selected by a special panel of community leaders, who reviewed the nominations very carefully and after a very difficult decision came together to present their final decision.

Politics - JUAN CANDELARIA - state representative, 95th District, New Haven, CT
Education - DR. ELSA NUNEZ - president, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT
Sports - JUAN CARLOS CHANGANAQUI - fencing coach, certified by US Fencing Coaches Assn.
Arts & Culture - MARCELINA SIERRA - executive director, Guakia, Inc.
Music - JOSE PAULO SANTOS - tenor & Brazilian baritone. International career. Performs in 5 languages.
Media - WALTER JOSE MARTINEZ - cofounder and owner, 840 AM, "La Gigante de CT"
Health - DR. CARLOS BARBA - bariatric surgeon, Hospital of Central Connecticut
Student of the Year - MELISSA VAZQUEZ - Eastern Connecticut State University
Community Service - HERNANDO GARCIA - analyst, Hartford Hospital's Health Info. Management Dept.
Lifetime Achievement - DANILO RODRIGUEZ -radio presenter; pres., Dominican Radio Presenters in US

Click on attachment below to see Award Ceremony flyer of Identidad Latina.