Deadline Approaching for Hispanic Heritage Month Nominations

The deadline to submit nominations for the township's Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration is Thursday.

Awards will be presented at the beginning of the Township Council's Sept. 26 meeting, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Nominees must live or work in the township and be an exemplary citizen who has made significant contributions to the township through volunteer service.

This will be the fifth year Council will host the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The program really grew last year, with nine recipients following years of just one, two and one recipients the three prior years (there were no winners in 2007).

Council Vice President Orlando Mercado, the only Latino to ever sit on the Township Council, brought the celebration to the township in 2006. He has promoted the nominations the last two Council meetings.

"Our community had become more diverse. I said to (Council President) Glen (Bianchini), 'We should do this," Mercado said of the program's founding.

Nomination forms have been distributed to township schools and are available on the township's official website. Council members and Mayor David Mayer can also submit nominations.

Nominations, which must include an essay by the nominator detailing why their nominee should be recognized, will be reviewed by a three-member panel appointed by Mayer.

Past winners are:

• 2010 - Victor LeBron, Caitlin Emperador, Sierra Jorgensen, Christopher Griffin, Genesis Estrada, Elizabeth Perez, Enrique Pagan, Jose Velez and Dr. Yvonne Enid Gonzalez Rodriguez
• 2009 - Carlos Castro
• 2008 - Jose Melendez and Edwin Rosa
• 2006 - William Fontanez

Hispanic Heritage Month runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.