Awardees will be honored across multiple virtual ceremonies, including the Green Award Ceremony on Saturday, February 7.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) today announced the Youth Awards recipients for the Green category, presented by The Coca-Cola Company. 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, February 7, 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. She 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 – Karen Jimenez – Leesburg, VA – Loudoun County High School
SILVER – Gabriella Henriquez – Falls Church, VA – Falls Church High School
BRONZE – Valeria Novoa – Vienna, VA – James Madison High School
Burgundy Region: OK and TX
GOLD – Najia Zamora-Johnson – San Antonio, TX – Young Women’s Leadership Academy
SILVER – Sebastian Almudever – Arlington, TX – Lamar High School
BRONZE – Celeste Mora – San Juan, TX – Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial Early College High School
Green Region: FL and GA
GOLD – Edie Carneiro – Miami, FL – Miami Palmetto Senior High School
SILVER – Marielle Lopez Negrete – Coral Gables, FL – Palmer Trinity School
BRONZE – Sarah Luna – Fellsmere, FL – Indian River Charter High School
Orange Region: AL, AR, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TN
GOLD – Victoria Higdon – Murphy, NC – Tri-County Early College High School
SILVER – Yeileen Colon – Fayetteville, NC – E.E. Smith High School
BRONZE – Raygan Short – Davidson, NC – William Amos Hough High School
Pink Region: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, and WI
GOLD – Giovani Ocampo – Muscatine, IA – Muscatine High School
SILVER – Sophia Lopez-Ramirez – Springfield, OH – Cedarville High School
BRONZE – Santiago Escoto – Rochester Hills, MI – Rochester Adams High School
Purple Region: CA and NV
GOLD – Christopher Ramirez – Lakewood, CA
California Academy of Mathematics and Science
SILVER – Azucena Sandoval – Watsonville, CA – Watsonville High School
BRONZE – Jenny De La Cruz Robles – Salinas, CA – Rancho San Juan High School
Red Region: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT
GOLD – Isabel Rose Gonzalez – Manhasset, NY – Manhasset High School
SILVER – Nicholas Francis Lenti – Bedford, NH – Trinity High School
BRONZE – Anabel Seni Corniel – Albany, NY – Shaker High School
Tan Region: AK, AS, GU, HI, PR, and VI
GOLD – Hugo Córdova de Varona – San Juan, PR – Colegio San Ignacio
SILVER – Kiora Rosario – Kaneohe, HI – Kailua High School
BRONZE – Aurora Espasas Howard – San Juan, PR – CeDIn High School
Teal Region: CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, and WY
GOLD – Alan Mendez – Longmont, CO – Skyline High School
SILVER – Joseph Lucero – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne East High School
BRONZE – Sofia Chavez Vargas- Aurora, CO – Smoky Hill High School
Yellow Region: AZ and NM
GOLD – Julia Lupica – Mesa, AZ – Mountain View High School
SILVER – Noelle Arambula – Glendale, AZ – Ironwood High School
BRONZE – Moises Medina – Phoenix, AZ – Cesar Chavez 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
