Adelante Award Recipients

Men Making a Difference

BY CHRISTY MARTINEZ-GARCIA FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

As we embark on Father's Day June 19, 2022, Latino Lubbock Magazine is proud to showcase recipients of the 5th Annual “Adelante Awards" recognition program, presented by Los Hermanos Familia, which showcased several amazing Hispanic men and youth in the Lubbock community. The 2022 recipients include:

ART & CULTURE Rick Mar-

tinez is a leader in the Lubbock Mariachi community and shares his knowledge and musical expertise in many ways that joyfully bring this regional Mexican tradition to families and patrons throughout Texas and New Mexico with Mariachi Los Galleros. He represented Lubbock’s mariachi culture with Mariachi Amistad by competing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Mariachi Shoot Out. And he showcased Lubbock’s music diversity with Mariachi Amistad at Fourth on Broadway and the Buddy Holly Summer Showcase Series.

BUSINESS/ ENTRE PRENEUR Noe Valles,

an attorney, and partner at Glasheen, Valles, & Inderman, LLP has helped clients who have gone through the worst tragedies get the compensation they deserve. He is an actively participating partner at Glasheen, Valles, & Inderman and is involved in catastrophic/ major cases. He has been practicing for over 20 years and continues to partner with local community events in town to ensure he gives back to the Hispanic community including Joel’s Easter Egg Hunt and Bike Giveaway.

CIVIC/ VOLUN TEER Kenneth Castil-

lo currently serves as the Primary Prevention Coordinator at the Voice of Hope. He is working to prevent first-time perpetration of sexual violence by engaging young Hispanic and Black Indigenous People of Color where they are at within the Lubbock Community. While he interacts with the youth, he has organic conversations about healthy relationships, and healthy community and gives the youth a connection to a caring adult. Kenneth knows by meeting the youth where they are and not in the school setting gives him the advantage to reach youth in a casual setting. Kenneth understands All youth is one caring adult away from being a success story.

CHURCH Jose Gilbert Salainas Jr.

though retired, works countless hours to give back to his church. He has helped make improve ments to his church, like a bell tower that was broken for years. He is an advocate for the church and continues to collect items and monetary donations to help the church with their fundraisers, such as their Jamaica. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, he has also helped and led a Basketball Free contest that involves local kids in the community. As a Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator for the Knights of Columbus, Gilbert Salinas continues to serve where he can in his church community.

HIGHER EDUCATION Dr.

Sam Ayers is currently a professor at Lubbock Christian University. An educator, an author, a volunteer, historian, photographer, illustrator, cartoonist, grant writer, and a leader in his field and in his community. He has served as the principal at the elementary and high school level, received his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Trinity University, and received his doctorate in Education at Texas Tech University. During his time at Estacado High School, he also had several educators recognized as outstanding educators at the local, regional, and state-level in their teaching fields.

EDUCA TION Senon Cruz

is the Coordinator of Bilingual and ESL at Frenship ISD. As the Coordinator of Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for Frenship ISD for the past six years, Senon’s dedication to our District, students, parents, staff, and community is reflected in his servant heart and desire to fulfill Frenship’s vision of “Seek Perfection…Capture Excellence” in everything he does. You will often find Senon visiting classrooms, interacting with students, and taking the time out of his busy day to ensure teachers and students feel loved and seen. He has been instrumental in establishing a bilingual pathway for all dual-language students in Frenship to support staff, students, and families every step of the way while removing obstacles and making this program a priority.

Sol Deleon

is currently the Assistant Principal at Lubbock High School. In the 23 years of Mr. Deleon's educational trajectory, he has been an accomplished Spanish teacher, Health teacher, Coach, and lastly an Administrator in the West Texas area. He has spent his entire educational career working in Title 1 (low-socioeconomic) campuses serving predominately Latino populations. Mr. Deleon also works closely and in tandem with Communities in Schools and the Lubbock Police Department to help our impoverished students and those who face adversity during their learning so that they have the best support system and tools in place to keep these students matriculated in our campus.

Gregorio

Cavazos is currently the Mariachi Director at Lubbock High & Cavazos Middle School. In addition, he has been a mariachi educator and performer in Texas for the past 22 years. He has studied with master mariachi musician and educator Jesus "Chuy" Guzman and has also provided adjudication services for Region 6 and the North Region of the Texas Association of Mariachi Educators. Gregorio has been associated with various mariachi groups such as Mariachi Los Gavilanes, Mariachi Piedras Negras, Mariachi Fuego, Mariachi Relampago and the Texas Tech University Mariachi Los Matadores. In addition, he has successfully prepared his mariachi groups for state competitions and community performances to showcase the mariachi programs.

MILI TARY/ VETERAN Lupe Car-

rillo is a hero among us. He has served in every war since Vietnam up to Iraq. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and helped with tonight’s Color Guard. He serves as Commander of the Color Guard for the Diocese of Lubbock. Lupe was a member of the Catholic War Veterans. He is a member and volunteer of Los Hermanos Familia since its inception.

MEDI CAL Ray

Covarrubio, currently the Lead Immunization Nurse at the City of Lubbock has served as the Lead Nurse in the City of Lubbock's MASS vaccination clinic that took place at the Lubbock Civic Center. His time and efforts, contributed to the city of Lubbock becoming the third-best ranked city in the United States for delivering the most vaccines per capita, based on data from Georgetown, Stanford, and Harvard University. He served on planning committed to ensuring Hispanic communities were among those getting vaccinated and helped provide bilingual materials in the public transport system. He was an advocate and worked to educate the community in his efforts to help the community get vaccinated.

PROFESSIONAL Cristian

Garcia is the Vice President at Saint Francis Ministries and has worked in child welfare for almost two decades, serving the most vulnerable children and families in our community. Being a first-generation American, as well as the first in his family to graduate college, Cristian has become a role model and example for the Hispanic community. Bachelor of Political Science from Texas Tech University; Master of Science from Lubbock Christian University. His field of work has impacted the community through his innovative ideology of keeping children connected to their heritage and home with their families.

~ Continued from p. 12

UP & COMER James Vil-

lanueva is a teacher at Lubbock ISD at Estacado High School. He currently teaches English at Lubbock and coaches the Academic Decathlon and speech and debate. He is a former cheerleading coach holding various state, regional, and national titles and lives in Slaton, Texas with his larger-thanlife dachshund, Oliver. Also, as a writer, he has collected and written oral histories for his book about the Slaton Hispanic Community.

YOUTH Kysiah Gonzales

is currently a student at Lubbock High School. He has helped to encourage a more inclusive space for minorities and special needs children to be involved in the performing arts. Kysiah has helped build and mentor young children in the Hispanic community to become leaders at LCT and has helped to grow the program. He not only teaches acting, but helps with the construction of sets, and currently runs the Lubbock Community Theater Student Board which plans community service projects.

GOLDEN EAGLE AWARDS

Rick Flores is retired from the City of Brownfield and is currently a volunteer at Covenant Women's /Children’s Hospital. Throughout his years of volunteering, he has put in over 11,000 hours of volunteer time. His volunteering is driven by his passion and his desire to continue to serve the community. George Sulaica has been with Lubbock Meals on Wheels for the last three years. In that time he has volunteered as a driver and as a kitchen volunteer. George delivers a route for Lubbock Meals on Wheels each week. Each route has

Art & Zelda Cuevas Recognized Lifetime Achievement Award

BY CHRISTY MARTINEZ-GARCIA FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

The Adelante Awards Recognition program was created by Los Hermanos Familia(LHF) to honor Hispanic men who have made outstanding contributions to their community and families. This year LHF recognized an entrepreneur and developer in the Lifetime Achievement category for their lifetime commitment to a local businessman and entrepreneur. Art Cuevas grew up in Lubbock on Colgate Street in the Arnett Benson neighborhood. To his luck, he lived across the street from the Boys & Girls Club. Art loved to read. He shared that love with his brother Alfred who was four years younger. They came from a humble family where he credited his mom as the backbone and strength of the family. “She kept tight rings on us like most Hispanic Moms. She wanted to know everything,” he said. His mom’s name is Ramona Corey Franco. She was a hard worker and provided for her sons no matter the hurdle. She worked at Malouf’s as a seamstress and always encouraged her sons to be honest. Plus, she instilled good values and principles, to never give up and work hard at solving any problem. More so, she instilled in her sons to be generous and aware of the needs of others. With that, Art was committed to his education. He attended Lubbock High School and graduated in 1969. Unlike other college students, Art was working full time while attending college full time. He was in the retail business working for Piggly Wiggly, Furr’s, and Albertsons before he got into the construction business. He said he learned about organization and customer service working in that field. Art recalled working at Food Way grocery store by Coronado High School when he met the love of his life. When Zelda walked into the store after school, he claims that she didn't go to the shop, but rather she went to see him. “I knew that I was the one for her, he said kiddingly,” adding that it was love at first sight for him. They married and began their life together as husband and wife, parents, and business owners. “I married the love of my life and we’ve been a pair for 47 years since October.” Art said that Zelda encouraged him to do his business and partnered with him because she worked with many contractors. They formed Art Cuevas Construction, Inc. in 1984 and did their work with pride. has won numerous awards for his commercial and residential buildings. When he started in the construction industry, he was one of two Hispanics. He recalled that it was him and Sam Reyes. Art takes pride in building good relations with other contractors, suppliers, and vendors because they had a common passion for building up the community. He quickly understood that he could not build his business all by himself. “We have a sense of respect for each other’s work, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that people will help. And where you are short - let others help you,” he added. Folks soon got to know Art’s passion for building – homes and relationships. They saw that he was knowledgeable about changes affecting the construction and building industry. More so, Art learned that to be a successful business he had to work with others knowledgeable about their fields that could help him to sustain himself and succeed. “Professionals like subcontractors, suppliers, bankers, and accountants can help you. They work with you and invest in your dreams. It means

around 10-15 clients in the ArnettBenson neighborhood and ensures his clients are all taken care of. During the early stages of the pandemic, George did whatever he could at the Lubbock Meals on Wheels to help those that depended on those meals. The Adelante Award's program is an initiative of Los Hermanos Familia, was established in 2008. Los Hermanos Familia is preparing for the 14th Annual "Vamos a Pescar, Let's Go Fishing" event to be held, Saturday, August 6, 2022. To learn more about becoming a member, events, projects, volunteer opportunities, visit www.loshermanosfamilia.org or please contact (806) 792-1212. so much more when you have an important relationship with professionals who want to see you fulfill those dreams, he said.” He added that another part of his journey was joining the West Texas Home Builders Association (WTHBA) a couple of years after he got into construction. “It is an organization that is invested in its members and helps to build each other up.” In addition, Art and Zelda who was also a realtor, are the only members, a husband, and wife, that served as presidents of the WTHBA. “People will help you if you prove yourself.” As Art listed the many individuals who helped him and Zelda along the way, he choked up as he talked about the professional relationships, and he was proud to know that others can care for him. One of those relationships he mentioned was with Jim Wills, a realtor who encouraged him to build a home. “It was more than an investment in his business - it was a trust. He went the extra mile for Zelda and I when he worked with us to get going.” He also worked with Stanley and Barbara Reed a construction business and a great mentor for Art. When Stanley passed, he continued to work with Barbara. While Art has many accolades, he takes extra pride He spent two years on the Plumbing Board of Appeals for the State of Texas. He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry. He received the SBA Regional Businessman of the Year. He was recognized by Reese Air Force Base. The USDA also acknowledged him as the Regional Businessman of the Year. He served as a board member of the West Texas Home Builder's Association. He served on the State Home Builder's Association. Later he also served on the National Home Builder’s Association. He also served on the Remodeler's Council. He was also a founding board member of the Texas Residential Construction Commission, that made sure that the citizens had an outlet where they could address issues or complaints about bad constructors and companies. Beyond business, Art took pride in his family. He coached softball for his sons. He took them to many state tournaments and built a relationship with his sons - hunting, fishing, and golf. A few years ago, he was recognized by the Boys & Girls as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Art is a humble man. “I realized that my success has been built on many people helping me. And if you do things for the right reasons that ultimately is all that really matters,” he said. He further added that in anything you do, do it for the right reason and stand by your decisions. Stand by your principal. Be committed." And that, he said is what really defines a builder. For more information about the Adelante Awards and Los Hermanos Familia, visit www.loshermanosfamilia.org