Carlos Vives, Zoe Saldaña, Pepe Aguilar to receive Hispanic Heritage Awards

Colombian singer Carlos Vives, the American actress of Dominican descent Zoe Saldaña, and Mexican musician Pepe Aguilar will each be honored this year with the prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award, which celebrates the contribution Latinos make to America.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, or HHF, announced this Thursday in a communique the list of prizewinners who will receive their awards on Sept. 18 at the Warner Theatre in Washington as part of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.

Also picking up the prize this year will be the retired Puerto Rican majorleaguer who played baseball with the New York Yankees, Bernie Williams, and U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa from Texas.

Carlos Vives will receive the Legend award, Pepe Aguilar the prize for Master of Arts, and Zoe Saldaña the Vision prize.

For the first time, PBS will do a onehour special this year on the prizes that will be broadcast nationwide on Sept. 29.

“The Hispanic community has made significant contributions throughout history, and we are proud to recognize that impact. Beyond celebrating our past success, we are focused on the future. Now more than ever, Latinos will play a vital role in moving America forward,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the HHF.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards were established by the White House in 1987 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America.

Since then, these prizes have been considered one of the greatest honors for Hispanics by Hispanics in the nation.

“We look forward to sharing this gala event with our audiences, both on our airwaves, and online, and hope that it inspires greater cultural understanding and appreciation of our diversity as Americans,” PBS President and CEO, Paula Kerger, said in the same communique.