CSUSB LEAD team earns 4th consecutive Presidential Volunteer Service Award

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- For the fourth consecutive year, planners, volunteers and service providers for Cal State San Bernardino’s Latino Education and Advocacy Days Summit and its affiliate activities and projects will receive the prestigious Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Obama’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Along with LEAD’s annual summit, the award also recognizes the volunteers and coordinators of the steering committee for the second annual FERIA EDUCATIVA, which was held in October with more than 100,000 people in attendance.

The steering committee was coordinated by LEAD/CSUSB, and jointly planned with the partners of the IE Regional Collaborative.

“We are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our LEAD volunteers in putting together a very successful event that is not only critical in addressing educational issues that impact everyone, including Latinos, but also is significant enough to draw the attention of educators worldwide,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “To receive this presidential recognition is a tremendous honor.”

Enrique Murillo Jr., the executive director and founder of LEAD, said with this year’s recipients, the presidential award has now been awarded to 159 LEAD volunteers since 2010.

“This year, we are privileged to have 56 new volunteers receiving the presidential award, and as in previous years, the presidential award will be given to new volunteers,” Murillo said.

In 2010, 15 LEAD volunteers received the award. In 2011, 45 more volunteers received the award and last year awards were presented to 43 volunteers, Murillo said.

Each member of Cal State San Bernardino’s LEAD team received a pin, a personalized certificate and a congratulatory letter signed by President Barack Obama. The volunteers were honored during the annual LEAD Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Dec. 13.

The LEAD summits at Cal State San Bernardino the past four years have attracted educators, students and activists from throughout the United States and around the world through traditional gatherings as well as through the Internet, international viewing locations and social media.

During the 2013 LEAD Summit, an estimated 1,200 people attended the free all-day forum held at the CSUSB Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center, with thousands more participating over the Internet at more than 1,500 viewing stations around the United States and 29 countries around the world.

This year’s recipients, along with their CSUSB department or other affiliation, are:

•  Jesus Acuña-Perez, assistant professor, aerospace studies, CSUSB, Air Force ROTC;
•  Martha Adams, associate director, Parent Institute for Quality Education;
•  Carrera Lynn Allred , cadet third class, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, CSUSB;
•  Jackie Aparicio, University of La Verne;
•  Joseph W. Boffa II, doctoral candidate, CSUSB Educational Leadership Program and teacher at Desert Mirage High School;
•  Adriana Briones, program coordinator Bright Prospect program;
•  Melissa Castro, CSUSB student;
•  Sara Clark, coordinator, Promise Scholars, Ontario-Montclair School District;
•  Jason Cordova, senior program coordinator, Bright Prospect program;
•  Lorena Corona, manager, governmental relations, Chaffey College and Fontana Unified School District board member;
•  Cassandra Coughlin, CSUSB student, member of the Public Relations Student Society of America CSUSB Chapter;
•  Fernanda Cruz, community affairs promoter, Mexican Consulate;
•  Angela Dao, AmeriCorps member, Promise Scholars, Ontario-Montclair School District;
•  Evelyn De La Cruz, University of La Verne;
•  Ricardo Diaz, coordinator of counseling and Latino Faculty and Staff Association, Chaffey College;
•  Sonia Escobedo, University of La Verne;
•  Fabiola Espitia, adjunct counselor and Latino Faculty and Staff Association, Chaffey College;
•  James Fenelon, CSUSB professor of sociology, director of the CSUSB Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies;
•  Krystal Fierro, CSUSB student, member Public Relations Student Society of America CSUSB Chapter;
•  Arlahe Galicia, community affairs promoter, Mexican Consulate;
•  Mario G. Galicia Jr., president, Graduate Students Association, UC Santa Barbara;
•  Ana Garcia, community affairs promoter, Mexican Consulate;
•  Tammy Garcia, community affairs coordinator, Mexican Consulate;
•  Georgina Garzon, University of La Verne;
•  Alexis Guzman, brand ambassador, New Futuro education organization;
•  Jose Islas, associate director, Parent Institute for Quality Education;
•  Elizabeth Lopez, University of La Verne;
•  Philip Augustus Lutterodt, doctoral candidate, CSUSB Educational Leadership Program and nonprofit outreach manager, Student in Need Foundation;
•  Ana Martinez, CSUSB student, Public Relations Student Society of America CSUSB Chapter;
•  Linda Miranda, special assistant to the superintendent, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools;
•  Sarah Moellering, AmeriCorps member, Promise Scholars, Ontario-Montclair School District;
•  Adonay Montes, assistant professor of education, University of La Verne;
•  Stephanie Moya, executive assistant to the associate superintendent, Chaffey College and Latino Faculty Staff Association;
•  Jasmin Murillo, staff, Mexican Consulate;
•  Cecilia Ornelas, doctoral candidate, Educational Leadership Program, CSUSB and Faculty Development Campus Leader and English instructor-General Education Department, Westwood College;
•  Leslie Ortega, brand ambassador, New Futuro education organization;
•  Yazmin Padilla, brand ambassador, New Futuro education organization;
•  Louis Ramos, student and Puente Project, UC Riverside;
•  Marco Robles, public affairs director, Cardenas Markets;
•  Leslie Rodden, director Alliance for Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools;
•  Charron A. Rodriguez, doctoral candidate, CSUSB Educational Leadership Program, kindergarten teacher, assistant principal, Alta Loma Elementary School;
•  Maria Rojas, student and Puente Project, San Bernardino Valley College;
•  Karen Romero, Bright Prospect student, Bright Prospect program;
•  Karla Rosenbery, associate director, Parent Institute for Quality Education;
•  Jaime Ruiz, student and Puente Project, UC Riverside;
•  Mary Jane Sanchez, board of trustees, College of the Desert;
•  Tim Sandoval, program director, Bright Prospect program;
•  Suzy A. Sharweed, doctoral candidate, CSUSB Educational Leadership Program, academic coordinator and English instructor, International Extension Programs, CSUSB College of Extended Learning;
•  Leslie Sorenson, director, Promise Scholars, Ontario-Montclair School District;
•  Brenda Toro Quintana, student, CSUSB, Public Relations Students Society of America CSUSB Chapter;
•  Maria Fernanda Torres, coordinator, Promise Scholars, Ontario-Montclair School District;
•  Linda Vasquez, vice president of partnerships, New Futuro education organization;
•  Patty Vasquez, associate director, Parent Institute for Quality Education;
•  Anahi Velasco, brand ambassador, New Futuro education organization;
•  Daniel Velasquez, staff, Mexican Consulate; and
•  Carolina Zaragoza-Flores, Mexican Consul.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 by President George W. Bush to recognize the valuable contributions that volunteers make in their communities and to encourage others to serve.

The council created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

To be eligible for the award, the group must be qualified and approved by a certifying organization, verifying the number of volunteer hours served.

For more information about LEAD, contact Enrique Murillo Jr. at (909) 537-5632 or e-mail emurillo@csusb.edu, and visit the LEAD website.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.