Pride On Display At Islip’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Press release from Islip School District:

October 28, 2020

The Islip School District held its fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct.
20, recognizing Hispanic students who have engaged in civic and community engagement
and participation within their school while demonstrating pride for their language and
culture. Held during the board of education meeting at the high school auditorium, the
event coincided with Hispanic Heritage month, which pays tribute to the generations of
Hispanic, Hispanic Americans and heritage speakers who have positively influenced and
enriched the nation and society.

Selected by Islip’s ENL and world languages department, in collaboration with the
Hispanic Heritage Committee, nine district students were honored: Zuleyma Coto Guzman
of Wing Elementary School; Cristian Martinez Ortiz, Alexis Montoya and Emily Sarai
Coronado of Commack Road Elementary School; Dennys Alfaro Umanzor and Bryan
Alvarenga of Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School; Viancy Cordova Mejia of Islip Middle
School; and Daiana Fuentes Velasquez and Jimmy Larrea Salvatierra of Islip High School.
Suffolk County Legislator Samuel Gonzales, a Hispanic community leader, was on
hand as a special guest to recognize the students along with administrators and board of
education members. As their proud families watched, each of the honorees received a
proclamation from Gonzales, an award certificate from the ENL and world languages
department, and a gift coupon from BJ’s Restaurants.

“This year’s theme was ‘Hispanics Proud of Their Culture and Language,’
and there are many ways that our students show pride for their culture and
language,” said Priscilla Zarate, Islip’s coordinator of ENL and world languages.

This press release was produced by Islip School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.