140 Hispanic Scholars, Suffolk's 1st Chief Honored By Brookhaven Town

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Over 140 Hispanic student scholars and Suffolk County's first chief were honored last Friday in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by Brookhaven Town.

The nearly 200 high school seniors are from 15 school districts throughout Brookhaven who achieved a grade point average of 95 or higher were recognized at the 9th annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration hosted by the town's Hispanic Advisory Board, town officials said.

Also honored during the celebration was keynote speaker Deputy Chief Milagros Soto, who was presented with a proclamation from Supervisor Ed Romaine and the Town Council.

Over 300 people were in attendance at the ceremony inside Town Hall in Farmingville.

Romaine established the first Hispanic Advisory Board in the town in 2013 to help improve cultural understanding between the Hispanic community, civic, and business leaders, as well as Brookhaven government, and town residents. It serves as "a sounding board to the town board and provides viable recommendations on policies that advance the social and economic well-being of Hispanics and all citizens in the Town of Brookhaven," officials said.