Edward P. Romaine, Supervisor

Jonathon Kornreich, District 1 Michael A. Loguercio, Jr., District 4

Jane Bonner, District 2 Neil Foley, District 5 Kevin J. LaValle, District 3 Daniel Panico, District 6

Donna Lent, Town Clerk

Louis Marcoccia, Receiver of Taxes

Dan Losquadro, Superintendent of Highways

Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Edward P. Romaine

Each year since 1988, Americans have celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15 to recognize the contributions and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States.

In 2013, I established the Hispanic Advisory Board in the Town of Brookhaven to help improve cultural understanding among the Hispanic community, civic and business leaders, Brookhaven government, and Town residents.

This year commemorates the Eighth Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration in the Town of Brookhaven. Events such as this are important, as they unify communities, raise awareness, and foster a greater appreciation of multicultural and multiethnic customs and traditions.

The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), announced the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month observance theme: “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” The theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope. It encourages us to reflect on all of the contributions Hispanics have made in the past and will continue to make in the future. It is also a reminder that we are stronger together.

Each year, we recognize the academic achievements of many high school seniors throughout Brookhaven Town. Tonight, we are recognizing the academic achievements of 136 high school seniors from 14 school districts that are well on their way to attaining the American dream, and have achieved a grade point average of 95 or higher.

Tonight, our honoree and keynote speaker is an educational professional who holds degrees in English Language and Literature. Olivia Diaz, an Assistant Principal for Dawnwood Middle School, believes in the importance of education and supports innovative methods of teaching to improve student learning. She is the co-founder of Middle Country School District's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which is committed to ensuring that our schools are inclusive, respectful, and emotionally supportive places of learning for all students. Ms. Diaz serves as a role model to our future generation and is an inspiration to all.

I hope that you enjoy this year’s celebration. Thank you for joining us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and honoring our youth, who are our future.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration October 1, 2021

Artwork Video Presentation Introduction Artists, Of Colors a Creative Collective

Processional

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard

Pledge of Allegiance Jose Nunez, Deputy Sheriff Sergeant

National Anthem

Elizabeth Yasmin Guzman

Welcome and Invocation Pastor Rigoberto and Ivette Guzman, Board Members

Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel of Center Moriches

Greetings Guillermo Sandoval, Chairperson

Opening Remarks

Supervisor Edward P. Romaine Town Board

History of Hispanic Heritage Month

Sonya Dungee, Board Member

Honoree/Keynote Speaker Olivia Diaz, Assistant Principal, Dawnwood Middle School

High School Student Award Presentations

Bellport High School, Center Moriches High School, Centereach High School, Comsewogue High School, Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School, Longwood High School, Miller Place High School, Newfield High School, Patchogue-Medford High School, Rocky Point High School,

Sachem East High School, Sachem North High School, Ward Melville High School, William Floyd High School

Benediction

Pastor Rigoberto and Ivette Guzman, Board Members Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel of Center Moriches

Closing Remarks

Guillermo Sandoval, Chairperson

Artwork Video Presentation Introduction Artists, Of Colors a Creative Collective

Hispanic Heritage Month Honoree and Keynote Speaker

Olivia Diaz

Olivia Diaz is a resident of the Town of Brookhaven and an alumna of Ward Melville High School. She holds an A.A. with Honors from Suffolk County Community College, a B.A. in English Language & Literature from Boston College, an M.A. in English Language & Literature from Stony Brook University, an M.A. in English Education from Columbia University, and an advanced certificate in Educational Leadership. She is also planning to pursue her Ph.D. in the near future. Ms. Diaz began her career in education as a founding English Language Arts teacher of a high school in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to teaching, she assumed many leadership roles including Teacher Mentor & Pedagogical Growth Coordinator. In this role, she supported the development of teachers across content areas to improve student learning. She also designed and facilitated school-wide professional development, and acted as a liaison for outside school partnerships. She was the recipient of the New York City Department of Education District 15 Superintendent’s Exceptional Educational Leader Award for her service on numerous school and district committees. Ms. Diaz is an Assistant Principal within the Middle Country Central School District. She is also a co-founder of the school district's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which is committed to ensuring that our schools are inclusive, respectful, and emotionally supportive places of learning for all students. As part of this work, she spearheads the creation and publication of the committee's bi-monthly newsletter. Ms. Diaz also proudly serves on the Editorial Board for New York University’s Voices in Urban Education Journal and the Hispanic Advisory Board for the Town of Brookhaven.

High School Student Honorees

Bellport High School

Eliana Cruz Joel Cruz Elisha Feliz Josselyn Fuentes Jarithsa Molina Tamara Ortiz Rianna Raghunandan Rylie Sikeotis Dominic Tigre Margaret Fuentes Velasco

Center Moriches High School

Olivia Dench

Centereach High School

Luis Alvarez Aguilar Dileinny Balcacer Dayra Cardenas Daniel Echeverria Mia Farinas Angella Flores Melissa Flores Katie K. Lucero Kaytlin Martinez Sebastian Garcia Montejo Gabriela Marie Varela

Comsewogue High School

Mynor Folgar Alarcon Astrid Alvarez Gabrielle Arroyo Olivia Cassino Emma Canudas Angie Camila Zorrilla Crespin Stephen Larsen Regina Martinez Dave Martinez-Paz Darwin Perla Sophia Quintana

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

Omaris Adames Pena Santiago Burgos-Fallon Justin Garcia Ana Oliva

Longwood High School

Natalia Cancel Dimla Jazmin Egan Imani Felix Y Loni Glenn Adriana Gonzalez Marvin Granados Nicolas Graviano Aralyssa Lopez Ryan Marquez Jessica Martinez Adrian Morel Yovanka Nunez Mackenzie Rodriguez Aerin Smith Kenny Stevens Olivia Umbarila Elijah Washington Mia Wattley

Miller Place High School

Skyla Fernandez Natasha Rettura

Newfield High School

Brian Padilla Alvarado Samantha Branigan Amaya Colon Jasmine Llivicura Molina Matthew Montalvo Liam Ortiz Shanell Feliz Pena Emily Ramirez Arabel Rodriguez Nicholas Salazar

High School Student Honorees

Patchogue-Medford High School

Samantha Abad Lituma Melody Almonte Mileyni Argueta Sanchez Alessandra Ascarruz Erik Astudillo Prado Oscar Cardenas Sarmiento John Gregoire Alexa Chicas Gonzalez James Hadzicki Katerina Foltmann Iker Jara Luna Samuel Lorenzo Maya Marquez-Sturm Julissa Martinez Alisson Martinez Flores Gabriele Molina Bryant Naranjo Jada Noble Clark Penaranda Espinoza Ethan Penaranda Espinoza Daniel Quinteros Tenorio Daniel Ramos Mayen Katherine Santos Tobar Rosemary Soriano Jessica Tiniganay Anthony Torres Maldonado Christian Verges Jaylene Zhicay Paladines

Rocky Point High School

Ericka Cabrera Max Marte Matthew Sloane Jessica Zoll

Sachem East High School

Stephanie Dias Krystal Auquilla Apaza Ciara Torres Kassandra Suarez Dayanna Villavicencio Andrea Reina

Sachem East High School

Olivia Kaminski Nicole Guerrero Paulino Julissa Mejia-Martinez

Sachem North High School

Alissa Cardoso Deanna Cardoso Isabella Cedeno Delaney Ortiz Henry Ricardo Pimentel Mariana Riva Carly Madison Reyes Mauricio Rodriguez Isabella Sill

Ward Melville High School

Michael Gualtieri Kamilia Nivar John Rodriguez Cedeno Jacqueline Winslow

William Floyd High School

Elmer Fuentes Christina Girardi Alanis Gonzalez Lourdes Gonzalez Emily Juarez Amber Martinez Ariella Morano Jack Monti Emily Muniz Logan Novick Pina Bryan Ortiz Rodriguez Isabella Saladin Alex Rojas Leslie Perez Fuentes Fiorella Amaini Quinonez

A Special Thank You To: Edward P. Romaine, Supervisor

Jonathan Kornreich, Councilmember

Jane Bonner, Councilwoman

Kevin J. LaValle, Councilman

Michael A Loguercio Jr., Councilman

Neil Foley, Councilman

Daniel Panico, Councilman

Donna Lent, Town Clerk

Louis Marcoccia, Receiver of Taxes

Daniel Losquadro, Superintendent of Highways

Hispanic Advisory Board Members

Division of Public Information

Department of Information Technology

Elizabeth Yasmin Guzman

Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel of Center Moriches

Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff’s Office

Tracy Todd Hunter,

Curator & Cultural Liaison of ‘Of Colors a Creative Collective’

The Artists of ‘Of Colors a Creative Collective,’

Clemente Ettrick, Christopher Hanson, Lisa Samperi & Gena Vaccarello

Los Andes Restaurant

112 Tequila Restaurant & Deli

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A CREATCVE C0LLECTC11E

Town of Brookhaven Hispanic Advisory Board

Mission:

The Hispanic Advisory Board exists to serve as a liaison between the Hispanic

community in the Town of Brookhaven and the Supervisor. The Board serves as a

sounding board to the Town Board and will provide viable recommendations on

policies that will advance the social and economic well-being of Hispanics and all

citizens in the Town of Brookhaven.

Vision:

• To educate the public and our own community about the rich and varied history

of Hispanics who have contributed to their community and the Long Island

region.

• Instill pride in our heritage by honoring those successful and accomplished

Latinos who have come before us and will serve as examples of achievement for

our youth.

• Support, participate in and sponsor activities and educational venues geared to

the Hispanic Community.

• Increase Hispanic civic and volunteer participation within our community.

• Improve the understanding of local government policies and procedures to the

burgeoning Latino businesses and the Hispanic community at large.

Town of Brookhaven

Edward P. Romaine, Supervisor Jonathan Kornreich, Councilmember

Jane Bonner, Councilwoman

Kevin J. LaValle, Councilman

Michael A Loguercio Jr., Councilman

Neil Foley, Councilman

Daniel Panico, Councilman

Donna Lent, Town Clerk

Louis Marcoccia, Receiver of Taxes

Daniel Losquadro, Superintendent of Highways

Department of Housing and Community Development

Alison Karppi, Commissioner Marie Michel, Deputy Commissioner

Lucia Elam, Executive Assistant/Hispanic Advisory Board Liaison

Hispanic Advisory Board

Guillermo Sandoval, Chairperson Paula Andrea Arbelaez, Vice Chairperson

Olivia Diaz

Sonya S. Dungee Lorena Gonzalez

Belinda Groneman Ivette Feliciano Guzman

Rigoberto Guzman Jaime Ann Hechtman-Ulloa

Veronica Morante Jose Nunez