USHLI will again give special recognition to some truly outstanding members of the Latino leadership community.  Receiving our Hank Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award will be the Hon. Frances J. Garcia, who just recently completed her 25th year of service as an elected official.  When Frances was elected Mayor of Hutchinson, KS in 1985, she became the first Latina to be elected mayor in the Midwest.  She later was elected to the Kansas State Senate, where again she became the first Latina elected to that chamber.  Frances presently serves as a County Commissioner in Reno County (KS).  She has received numerous awards for distinguished service and continues to serve as a role model for Latino youth everywhere.

The Willie Velasquez Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Dr. Emma Sepulveda from the University of Nevada - Reno.  Originally from Argentina and raised in Chile, she has published 22 books and lectured in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and throughout the US.  Emma has received numerous awards for her writings and in 2007 was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.  She is a columnist for the Reno Gazette Journal and Ahora newspapers on Latino issues.  She is the founder of the Latino Research Center and recently organized USHLI's first Collegiate Leadership Development program at UN-Reno, with academic credit, and is bringing a group of students to our Conference.