Hispanic Heritage Foundation announces Youth Awards honoring outstanding high school leaders from across the nation

Awardees will be honored across multiple virtual ceremonies, including the Community Service Award Ceremony on Saturday, January 24.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) today announced the Youth Awards recipients for the Community Service category, presented by Colgate-Palmolive. A total of 30 outstanding high school seniors across the country will be honored for their dedication to serving others, vision, and leadership in the classroom and community. The honorees will be celebrated during a virtual ceremony on Saturday, January 24, at 6 PM AST/ 5 PM EST / 2 PM PST / 12 PM HST.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements and vision of these brilliant, young leaders, who will carry on the tradition of past Youth Awardees,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “We are grateful to our dedicated sponsors who understand the importance of investing in the youngest and most dynamic segment of our population.  That investment will be worthwhile as we look to these students to move our community and America forward.”

Noelia Velazquez, 2024 Regional Youth Award GOLD recipient for Media and Entertainment and Miss Teen All American, will host the five virtual Youth Awards Ceremonies. Noelia studies Entrepreneurship with minors in Journalism and Fashion at High Point University, where she is a Campus Ambassador, Women’s L.I.F.T. Fellowship Executive Council member, and HPU Vision anchor. Within Alpha Gamma Delta, she serves as Director of Philanthropy. Noelia also founded Girl Strong by Noe, a national initiative empowering young girls through confidence‑building workshops, and she proudly advocates for global cleft care as a Smile Train ambassador.

Click HERE to RSVP and learn more about this group of 30 high school seniors selected from ten regions across the United States:

Blue Region: DE, DC, KY, MD, NJ, PA, VA, and WV

GOLD – Maximus Elmorry – Bayonne, NJ – High Tech High School

SILVER – Kyle Padilla – Phoenixville, PA – Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School

BRONZE – Carys Gill- Wheaton, MD – Northwood High School

Burgundy Region: OK and TX

GOLD – Jazmin Tamez – Pharr, TX – Science Academy of South Texas

SILVER – Sharon Gaona – Dallas, TX – Townview School for the Talented and Gifted

BRONZE – Santiago Bryce – Southlake, TX – Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

Green Region: FL and GA

GOLD – Andres Izquierdo – Miami, FL – Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

SILVER – Simon Tchira – Hollywood, FL – Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

BRONZE – Constantino Peña – Miami, FL – Ransom Everglades High School

Orange Region: AL, AR, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TN

GOLD – Rodrigo Saenz – Metairie, LA – Metairie Park Country Day School

SILVER – Julio Duran – Winston Salem, NC – West Forsyth High School

BRONZE – Jahdai Avalos-Joya – Hickory, NC – Challenger Early College High School

Pink Region: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, and WI

GOLD – Lucia Campos – Chicago, IL – Frederick Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center

SILVER – Adam Parsons – Chicago, IL – Lane Tech College Prep

BRONZE – Victoria Rivera – Ripon, MI – Ripon High School

Purple Region: CA and NV  

GOLD – Sydney Mafong – San Diego, CA – The Bishop’s School

SILVER – Shyla Corona – Lomita, CA

Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy

BRONZE – Kahlil Boulware – Las Vegas, NV – Rancho High School

Red Region: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT

GOLD – Bruce Matos – Weston, CT – Weston High School

SILVER – Lia Tavarez Sobalvarro – Cranston, RI

Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School

BRONZE – Diego Cabanillas – White Plains, NY – Archbishop Stepinac High School

Tan Region: AK, AS, GU, HI, PR, and VI

GOLD – Fabiola Vega Carmona – Toa Alta, PR – Antilles High School

SILVER – Jelix Serrano Gonzalez – Arecibo, PR – Abelardo Martínez Otero High School

BRONZE – Valeria Duran Rodriguez – Toa Baja, PR – Colegio Marista de Guaynabo

Teal Region: CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, and WY

GOLD – Alejandra Wells – Omaha, NE – Burke High School

SILVER – Abigail Ruiz – Denver, CO – KIPP Denver Collegiate High School

BRONZE – Karen Gonzalez Machuca – Carbondale, CO – Basalt High School

Yellow Region: AZ and NM

GOLD – Walter Bradford – Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM – Valley High School

SILVER – Karyleni Alburquerque – Phoenix, AZ – Barry Goldwater High School

BRONZE – Miguel Salazar – Yuma, AZ – Cibola High School

Three students per region will be honored with gold, silver, and bronze medallions at five virtual ceremonies presented by The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Southwest Airlines, and COMCAST NBCUniversal/Telemundo. One national recipient per category will also be recognized and celebrated at the in‑person National Youth Awards ceremony.

Other supporters of the Youth Awards include Capital Wire PR, Es Tiempo, Freddie Mac, Intersect, Minecraft Education, and Teach for America.

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Youth Awards

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing education, workforce development, societal impact, and leadership, with culture serving as the cornerstone of its mission. Through the 27-year-old Youth Awards, thousands of high school students from all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and D.C., have been recognized for their achievements in the classroom and community, and their focus on a career path in all STEM areas, entrepreneurship, media, public service, and other categories. Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org.

Follow HHF on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.  Listen to the HHF podcast Fritanga on your favorite streaming service and HHF YouTube channel.

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Media Contact: Nicolas@HispanicHeritage.org