Owens event to celebrate Latinos’ success, leadership

2012 Maumee High graduate among honorees

Cynthia Geronimo, director of the Lucas County Land Bank, won the Latina Adult Leadership award.

A 2012 Maumee High School graduate is among the northwest Ohio community leaders, students, and organizations to be recognized today for their achievements and service to the Latino community.

Owens Community College is hosting the 23rd annual Diamante Awards at 6 p.m. in the college’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts in Perrysburg Township. The awards — "diamante" means diamond in Spanish — were started in 1989 by IMAGE of Northwest Ohio, a local chapter of a national Latino nonprofit organization, to recognize persons or groups who show exemplary leadership and achievements within the Latino community.

Alberto Serrano-Chavez of Maumee is to receive the Latino Youth Leadership award. Born in Logrono, Spain, he came to the United States at age 3 and graduated with honors from Maumee High School last spring. Born with a congenital heart defect, he has undergone numerous surgeries.

Mr. Serrano-Chavez was involved in Youth Leadership Toledo and now, as a freshman at Bowling Green State University, plans to study individualized business with an emphasis on fund-raising and a minor in music.

Cynthia Geronimo of Toledo, executive director of the Lucas County Land Bank, was selected to receive the Latina Adult Leadership award. A Libbey High School graduate, Ms. Geronimo served nine years in the Ohio Air National Guard and has been involved in numerous community organizations.

Receiving the Latina Adult Professional award is Celeste Taylor of Toledo, who has been an advocate for the Latino community through her work as social services manager with the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo.

Nueva Esperanza Community Credit Union is to receive the Diamante Award for corporate/community agency. The credit union was chartered in 2010 to provide access to financial services to the Hispanic population of Toledo, including immigrant and low-income Hispanic families.

Twenty-one students at BGSU, the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, and Lourdes University also are to be presented scholarships during the awards ceremony.