Community : Latina Role Models Honored at Banquet

“We’re facing a dismal dropout rate among Latinas of 43%, yet there are all these fantastic Latina role models they can look to,” said Anna Ortega, president of the Comision Femenil de Los Angeles.

At its annual banquet, the commission honored the following “11 outstanding Latinas in education.”

They are: Gina Alonso, founder, Latinos for Excellence in Education; Rosina Becerra, associate dean, UCLA School of Social Welfare; Mayra Fernandez, elementary school teacher; Cathy Kisee-Sandoval, Rhodes scholar; Adriana Martinez, Roosevelt High School student body president; Vilma S. Martinez, University of California regent.

Also, Leticia Quezada, Los Angeles Unified School District Board member; Hilda Solis, president of Rio Hondo Community College’s Board of Trustees; Lupie Sonnie, principal, Lincoln High School; Evangelina Ramirez, Los Angeles Unified School District region superintendent, and Judith Valles, president, Golden West Community College.