Twenty-Eight Hispanic Seniors Recognized for Academics, Leadership

The Hispanic Alliance for Education held its annual Distinguished Hispanic Scholars Awards ceremony on May 9. Twenty-eight Latinx students were honored for outstanding academic achievement, community engagement and leadership. Check out a photo gallery from the event.

The Distinguished Scholars and their schools are:

• Areli Ortiz, Albert Einstein
• Lucia Fernez, Bethesda-Chevy Chase
• Alayne Lopez Rodriguez, Montgomery Blair
• Emely Jimenez Mencias, James Hubert Blake
• Isabella Dama, Winston Churchill
• Emily Bestidas, Clarksburg
• Alexander Ibacache, Damascus
• Ruby Rojas, Thomas Edison High School of Technology
• Cristian Mendoza, Gaithersburg
• Miguel Solano Paz, Walter Johnson
• Jahaira Lopez Escalante, John F. Kennedy
• Sophy Escobar Flores, Col. Zadok Magruder
• Marlene Orantes, Richard Montgomery
• Michaela Herrera, Northwest
• Jeymi Hernandez Sosa, Northwood
• Thelma Enriquez Menendez, Paint Branch
• Abigail Hoy, Poolesville
• Jordan Richard, Quince Orchard
• Monica O'Donnell Baez, RICA - John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children & Adolescents
• Astrid Espinoza, Rockville
• Camila Maita, Seneca Valley
• Nicholas Hernandez, Sherwood
• Valeria S. Ramirez Peña, Springbrook
• Anthony Chavero, Virtual Academy
• Wesley Diaz Flores, Watkins Mill
• Victoria Reddig-Leiman, Wheaton
• Josefina Masjuan, Walt Whitman
• Malia Schmelzer, Thomas S. Wootton

In addition, all students received scholarship checks for post-secondary education. All received $100 checks and the following eight students received the following amounts:

• Ruby Rojas, Thomas Edison High School of Technology, $2,500
• Josefina Masjuan, Walt Whitman, $2,000
• Camila Maita, Seneca Valley, $1,500
• Jeymi Hernandez Sosa, Northwood, $1,000
• Alexander Ibacache, Damascus, $400
• Malia Schmelzer, Thomas S. Wootton, $400
• Areli Ortiz, Albert Einstein, $400
• Marlene Orantes, Richard Montgomery, $400