Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas will be among the honorees at the 13th annual César E. Chávez Hispanic Excellence Scholarship and Community Awards Gala.
Hosted by the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez, the event is Thursday, October 19, at the Eberhard Center, 301 W. Fulton, with a cash bar beginning at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $100 per individual and can be purchased online at gvsu.edu/inclusion/17cecgala. Proceeds support the Lupe Ramos-Montigny Legacy Endowed Scholarship at Grand Valley.
Haas will receive the Hispanic Advocate Award, presented to a non-Hispanic individual who exemplifies the legacy of Chávez by enhancing the upward mobility of the Hispanic community. In 2016, Haas was the first university president in Michigan to join Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success to advocate for increased higher education access for Latino/a students, and support them with resources and services.
Other award recipients are:
• Aguila Award: Gregory Sundstrom, Grand Rapids city manager; and Tom Almonte, Grand Rapids managing director of public services
• Youth Award: Devin Rittenhouse, 2017 Grand Valley graduate
• La Familia Award: La Familia Villarreal
• Golden Citizen Award: J. Marcos Guerrero
Also, area college students will receive scholarships. More information is available online at facebook.com/CommitteeToHonorCEC/.
