Nominations Now Open for 2017 NHI Awards

The National Hispanic Institute has opened nominations for its 2017 awards. The winners will be honored at Celebración 2017, taking place this November 16-19 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center & Spa in San Marcos, Texas, just minutes from NHI headquarters.

This year, NHI is considering Distinguished Alumni awards in three separate areas, to allow nominations to consider various aspects of community leadership. These include:

Distinguished Alumnus for Community/Public Service: For an NHI alumnus who has established a notable record of significance in public and/or community service for at least three years.

Distinguished Alumnus for Service to NHI: For an NHI alumnus who has established a record of significance serving the NHI community through its programs in a specific capacity for at least three years.

Distinguished Alumnus for Professional/Business Accomplishment: For an NHI alumnus who has established a record of significance for at least three years in a particular field of professional or business endeavor.

In addition to the Distinguished Alumni Awards (won last year by Alex del Barrio, Adriana Ramirez, and J.D. Salinas), NHI also recognizes other key contributors.

These include the following:

High School Counselor of the Year: This award goes to an individual (in the United States or Latin America) with demonstrated service in outreach and recruitment to students who annually attend National Hispanic Institute leadership programs.

High School of the Year: This award goes to a public, charter, or private school (in the United States or Latin America) with a strong record of support in mobilizing and assisting students attend National Hispanic Institute leadership programs.

District of the Year: This award goes to a school district that embraces NHI’s work and annually endeavors to be supportive through its student mobilization efforts and financial support to participants.

College of the Year: This award goes to a college or university that demonstrates support for NHI leadership programs in a host capacity, provides local space for NHI programming efforts, and/or conducts special research projects that advance NHI’s work.

College Students of the Year: This award goes to two NHI undergraduate college students (one male, one female) who are actively involved in supporting NHI programs through their volunteer service over extended periods of time.

To consider candidates for awards, the nominating person(s) must be an NHI alumnus, NHI staff person, trustee, project administrator, education director, or volunteer. The individual selected for awards consideration must fall into one of the awards categories listed above. The nomination must clearly identify the individual for consideration and provide written testimony of support for the candidate under consideration. No contact may be made in advance with the person nominated. Nominations must be submitted either electronically via the linked Google Form or via mail c/o NHI Awards, P.O. Box 220, Maxwell, Texas 78656.

The review process will be conducted at two levels: a) The NHI Alumni Association will be asked to appoint a sub-committee of reviewers who will work with NHI staff in reviewing all candidates; and b) a subcommittee of education directors and project administrators will work with NHI staff in reviewing all candidates for all other awards categories.   Once the review process is completed, committee recommendations will be forward to the NHI board of trustees with recommendations for adoption.

NHI board members and staff are excluded from being candidates for consideration as per the wishes and consent of the NHI board of trustees.