July 2016 Newsletter

MANA

De Imperial Valley

Congratulations to the 2016 MANA Scholarship Recipients!

MANA hosted a reception on Thursday, June 17, 2016 at the Imperial Valley College Lecture Hall to award twenty-one $500 scholarships and four $750 scholarships to twenty-five high school graduates from throughout Imperial County, one IVC nursing student and one IVC EOP transfer student.

The scholarships were made available to high school graduates who had a minimum cumulative GPA of2.75 ; had plans to enroll full-time in a degree seeking program and participated in community/school activities. The Elsa Downs Memorial Nursing Scholarship was awarded to an IVC student who had plans to continue preparing for a career in nursing and the EOP Tranfer Scholarship was awarded to a student who was transfering to a four year institution.

Dr. Amada Armenta, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania,

and keynote speaker at the reception urged the scholarship recipients to believe in

themselves and their ability to succeed. She stated, “Someday in the not too distant

future you’re going to be in a room where it seems like everyone knows more than you or

has more than you. You’re going to be worried about how a girl from the valley can hang

with classmates whose parents went to Harvard, who do not have to work or rely on

financial aid, or who talk about really “smart” things that you have never heard of. So

you’re going to doubt yourself. You’ll tell yourself: I don’t belong here. I’m not qualified to

do this. My opinion doesn’t matter. That’s when it’s MOST IMPORTANT to fake it ‘til

you make it.”

Maria Peinado, President of MANA, stated “We feel that providing scholarships to our

local Latinas is a way we can help by saying we value education and we support you in

your academic education.”

Board of Directors:

Maria Peinado,

President

Monica Lepe-Negrete, Esq.,Vice-President Maria Enriquez-Caldera, Treasurer Mariela Barreto, Esq. Membership Director Rosyo Ramirez, Community Service Director Keila Rodriguez, Scholarship Coord. Denise Cabanilla & Martha Singh , Hermanitas Co-Coord. Dr. Martha Garcia, Public Relations Director Alicia Armenta, Newsletter Editor Rebecca Terrazas- Baxter Immediate Past President

MANA thanks the community for supporting and attending the annual Las Primeras Awards Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser. Event proceeds are utilized to fund annual scholarships, the Hermanitas Academy, and a Girls Leadership Conference in the fall. We again extend our thanks to the UPS Foundation for their generous award of $3,500 towards our MANA Scholarship Program.

Our thanks to Keila Rodriguez, MANA Scholarship Coordinator, for a successful 2016 scholarship program and our MANA Board of Directors for reading scholarship applications, attending Senior Award events at local high schools and assisting at the scholarship reception. To view pictures of the 2016 MANA scholarship recipients and scholarship reception visit MANA webpage at www.ivmana.org/scholarships.html

¡APLAUSOS!

Joe Montenegro, awarded The Medal of Merit a special recognition by Board of Supervisors for

his outstanding service to the community. Since 2003, Joe Montenegro has served as a Board of Trustee of the 45th District Agricultural Association serving as President for three terms. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of El Centro Regional Medical Center for 12 years, serving as president for two terms. Additionally, his service to the community includes Imperial Valley P-16 Council Member, Sun Community Federal Credit Union Board of Trustees, Past President of the United Way of Imperial Valley, Kiwanis Club of El Centro Executive Board Member, and Chairman of the Finance Committee for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He has also been involved with Center for Family Solutions, Association for Retarded Citizens, Special Olympics, El Centro Police Athletic league, MANA de Imperial Valley, and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Imperial County. For the last 10 years, Joe also has coordinated the CASA Cattle Call event for neglected and abused children. Thank you Joe, for your many contributions to our community and congratulations on your retirement from SoCal Gas!

Haydee Rodriguez, Stanford graduate, awarded Alumni Excellence in Education Award. The

Alumni Excellence Award aims to spotlight alumni who are improving education worldwide. It recognizes excellence in several areas including research, instructional practice, innovation in addressing a challenge in education, policy leadership and dedication to underserved populations. Haydee Rodriguez, who grew up in El Centro and teaches history and English, is being lauded for her long-term commitment to serving the students of her hometown and to the art of teaching. Haydee was recognized as a 2015 Las Primeras Honoree! Congratulations Haydee!

Dr. Martha Garcia, appointed as Vice-President of Student Services at Imperial Valley College.

Dr. Garcia will serve as the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO) for the District. In this position she

will provide oversight for all Student Services programs such as Counseling Programs; Admissions and

Records; Financial Aid; Student Affairs; Campus Safety and Parking Control, Student Health Center;

and the Military and Veterans Success Center. Prior to her appointment as CSSO, Dr. Garcia was the

Special Projects Coordinator at IVC. She currently serves as the Public Relations Director for MANA de

Imperial Valley. Congratulations Dr. Martha Garcia!

Kudos to MANA Vice-President,

Monica Lepe-Negrete, Esq. and

Juan Cruz, long time MANA

member and supporter, for

participating in the IVROP 2016

Dancing With The Stars Gala!!

2016 Scholarship Reception at Imperial Valley College Lecture Hall, June 17, 2016

To view more pictures of 2016 Scholarship recipients and reception please visit www.ivmana.org/scholarships.html

Announcements: Las Primeras Nominations

You are invited to nominate a Latina in our community for consideration as a 2016 Las Primeras Honoree. Three women will be chosen and honored during the Annual Las Primeras Awards Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser which will be held Friday, October 21, 2016. Las Primeras provides MANA the opportunity to celebrate positive leadership in our community, honoring Latina women who have made significant contributions to the empowerment and well-being of the community and who serve as positive role models. Nominations are due August 12, 2016. (Nomination form attached).

You are all invited to attend our monthly MANA meetings MANA de Imperial Valley Board meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6 pm at the County Administration Building, Second floor Conference Room, 940 West Main St. El Centro.

Announcements: MANA Scholarship Applications available February 19, 2016 MANA de Imperial Valley is a local chapter of a national non-profit Latina organization that empowers Latinas through leadership development, community service and advocacy. In an effort to promote higher education, MANA offers local competitive college and university scholarships to high school seniors, the College Transfer Scholarship for IVC students participating in the Equal Opportunity Program well as the Elsa Downs Scholarship for IVC nursing students. The scholarships will be available to any Latina committed to supporting the mission of MANA. Applications will be available at local high school counseling centers and on the www.ivmana.org website. For more information contact Keila Rodriguez, Scholarship Coordinator at 760-457-7535.

You are all invited to attend our monthly MANA meetings MANA de Imperial Valley Board meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6 pm at the County Administration Building, Second floor Conference Room, 940 West Main St. El Centro.

We Appreciate the Support of Our 2016 Corporate Members

2016 Las Primeras Nomination Packet-1.docx

Upcoming Community Events June 27 – Aug. 11 Nominations for Las

Primeras

August 25 Las Primeras Media Mixer

September 21 Voter Registration Drive

October 21 Las Primeras Awards and Scholarship Fundraiser

November 5 Young Latina Leadership Conference

Invite your friends to join MANA de Imperial Valley

Dues payable each January; Pay Pal available at ivmana.org Regular: $40 Full-time student/Seniors: $20 Corporate: $250 Questions, please contact Mariela Barreto at marielabt@msn.com MANA, a National Latina Organization, was founded in 1974 as the Mexican-American Women's National Association. MANA's original intent was to provide a voice for Mexican-American women at the national, state and local levels. The organization has since expanded into a diverse group of Latinas who continue to develop their abilities in political, social and professional fields.

Lepe-Negrete & Barreto

Attorneys at Law

Our Mission:

MANA empowers Latinas through leadership development, community service and advocacy.

MANA is a national community of Latinas actively working to create a better quality of life for

Hispanics.

de Imperial Valley

2016 Las Primeras Awards Gala & Scholarship Fundraiser Friday, October 21, 2016

Old Eucalyptus School House - El Centro, California

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

MANA de Imperial Valley invites you to nominate a Latina in your community

for consideration as a 2016 Las Primeras Honoree. Three women will be chosen

and honored during the Annual Las Primeras Awards Gala & Scholarship

Fundraiser to be held Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Old Eucalyptus School

House in El Centro, California.

Las Primeras provides MANA de Imperial Valley the opportunity to celebrate

positive leadership in the Latina Community, honoring women the entire

community can look to as role models. This worthy event enables MANA to

provide a sterling affair whereby proceeds are used to fund college

scholarships, educational, and cultural programs in Imperial County.

Attached is the 2016 Nomination Form and Instructions. We have also included

a list of past Las Primeras Honorees. Nomination forms must be submitted and

received by Friday, August 12, 2016.

MANA thanks you in advance for your assistance in helping us find our next Las

Primeras Honorees! Your commitment to honoring Latinas in our community

continues to be an asset and we value your support. For more information,

please feel free to contact me at (760) 996-0679.

We look forward to receiving your nominations!

Sincerely,

Maria Peinado

President

PO Box 2945, El Centro, CA 92244 www.ivmana.org

MANA de

Imperial Valley Board of Directors

Maria Peinado President

Monica

Lepe-Negrete, Esq. Vice-President

Maria

Enriquez-Caldera Treasurer

Keila Rodriguez

Scholarship Coordinator

Rosyo Ramirez

Community Services Director

Dr. Martha Garcia

Public Relations Director

Denise Cabanilla

Martha Singh Hermanitas

Co-Coordinators

Alicia M. Armenta Newsletter Editor

Mariela Barreto, Esq. Membership Director

Rebecca

Terrazas- Baxter Past-President

de Imperial Valley

2016 Las Primeras Awards Gala & Scholarship Fundraiser

Las Primeras Past Honorees

Celeste Cantu Rosie Garcia Frances Beope Stella Mendoza Dolores Provencio Lupe Quintero Emily Palacio Dolores Soliz Aurora Rayon Grace Sesma Hon. Annie Guitierrez Alicia Armenta Margaret Silva-Chairez Norma Saikhon Teresa Sandoval Gloria Vasquez Susan Solis Dr. Amalia Katsigeanis Elsa Downs Ruth Bermudez Montenegro Virginia Montejano Norma Kastner Jauregui Toni Carrillo Rosie Ulloa Libby Peraza Margarita de Necochea Katie Alcantara-Santillan Hildy Carrillo-Rivera Yvonne Bell Dr. Luz Elva Tristan Karla Davis Rosalie Lopez Dianna Seanez Mercedes Wheeler Rosie Nava-Bermudez Gloria Uribe Brister Rosanna Bayon-Moore Carmen Araujo Maritza Hurtado-Barron Soledad B. Meza Gloria Rivera Ernestina Calderón Dora Rodriguez Loli Mercado-Torres Patricia Ureña Sandra Tauler Helen Noriega Elvira S. Alvarado Bertha Alicia Fletes-Karnes Norma Aguilar Teresa Estrada Sister Maria Luisa Valdez Diana Peacher Liz Gonzales Rebecca Grijalva Singh Norma Sierra Galindo Haydee Rodriguez Yazmin Arellano-Torres Lorena Lacar Gloria Muñoz-Brunswick Maria Elena Nava-Froelich

PO Box 2945, El Centro, CA 92244 www.ivmana.org

de Imperial Valley

2016 Las Primeras Awards

Call for Nominations

You are invited to nominate a candidate for the 2016 Las Primeras Awards Gala & Scholarship Fundraiser to be held on

Friday, October 21, 2016 at Old Eucalyptus School House in El Centro. The Las Primeras Awards give well deserved

recognition to Latina women who have made significant contributions to the empowerment and well-being of the Latino

community. Please submit one nomination per form.

Purpose of the Awards

To honor the outstanding commitment and contributions made by Latina Women to our community and to bring

attention to the recipients’ work.

Name of Nominating Organization/Individual:_________________________________________ Mailing Address _____________________________________________________________ Number (P.O. Box) Street _______________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code Work Phone: _______________________ Cell Phone: ______________________________ E-Mail Address ________________________________________________________________

***************************

Name of Nominee: ______________________________________________________________

Nominee’s Job Title/Position: _____________________________________________________

Nominee’s Employer: __________________________________________________________

Nominee’s Mailing Address ______________________________________________________

Number (P.O. Box) Street

_______________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code Work Phone: _______________________ Cell Phone: ______________________________

E-Mail Address ________________________________________________________________

PO Box 2945, El Centro, CA 92244 www.ivmana.org

de Imperial Valley

2016 Las Primeras Awards NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

Nomination Packet MUST include the following:

• Completed Nomination Form • Nomination essay (500 word maximum- 2 pages written) • Nominee’s resume and other supporting documents

(examples: letters of recommendation, newspaper clippings, etc.)

Please provide an essay with the following questions answered:

1. Why is the individual nominated for this award?

2. How has your nominee excelled or been the “first” to achieve a particular level of success

in her professional/ personal life?

3. Describe how the nominee’s work has had substantial impact on the Latina/o community.

How has your nominee been a role model for Latina women in Imperial County?

4. What community organizations has your nominee been affiliated with? What leadership

positions, if any, has she held in those organizations?

Nominations must be submitted and received by Friday, August 12, 2016 to:

MANA - Las Primeras Nomination PO Box 2945, El Centro, CA 92244

Or submitted via email to manaimperialvalley@gmail.com. Nomination form and essay

must be received in PDF format with supporting documents in JPEG or PDF format.

For additional information, visit our website, www.ivmana.org or call at 760-996-0679.

The awards will be presented at the MANA Las Primeras Gala held at Old Eucalyptus School

House on Friday, October 21, 2016.

PO Box 2945, El Centro, CA 92244 www.ivmana.org