THATHER — Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on Thursday, and the celebration kicks off with the Eastern Arizona Hispanic Heritage Corporation board members performing live on KATO AM 1230 at 8:30 AM on Voice of the Valley.
Bob Rivera, Lupe Muñoz, and Michael Andazola are local residents of Governor Doug Ducey’s proclamation proclaiming Hispanic Heritage Month in Arizona by Lorraine Rivera, director of the Tucson-based Southern Arizona Governor’s Office. Discuss the weekend’s events, including readings.
Rivera, Muñoz, and Andazola will also discuss the organization’s kickoff event on Friday, September 16 at 10:00 am at the Lee Little Theater at Eastern Arizona College. Margarita Dolores Escobedo Ulftangue and Frank L. Montoya will speak, and the mariachi trio Valencia will perform.
Margarita Dolores Escobedo Wulftange was a retired educator who taught grades 7-12 from 1959 to 1967, adult education from 1968 to 1970, and college from 1970 to 1975 in Stockton, California. As a trainer, I have taught in a variety of positions, including bilingual teaching in grades. 7-8 She was 1976-88, 1989-91 Assistant Principal, 1991-96 Principal.
He also taught Linguistics and Multicultural Education at Northern Arizona University from 1999-2007.
Since retiring from Safford, she has served as the Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America, and served as International Committee Chair of the GFWC Women’s Club Safford from 2004 to 2006, and Vice President from 2016 to 2018. and served on the Newman Center Board of Directors from 2016 to the present. .
In 1997, the Spanish Language Council named her Amiga of the Year, and in 1994 she was inducted into the Mexican-American Hall of Fame.
Originally from Clifton and now from Safford, Frank L. Montoya is married to Sandra Roya Montoya. His parents are Frank He Muñoz Montoya and Evarna, and he has one sister and his four brothers.
He worked as a laborer for Phelps Dodge for seven years and then for Clifton Circle K for 18 months before attending the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Tucson in 1985.
After graduating, he joined the Clifton Police Department as a patrol officer for eight months before beginning a 30-year career with the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office.
In the Sheriff’s Office, he served as Patrol Sergeant, DARE Officer, GREAT Officer, Search and Rescue Coordinator, and Investigative Sergeant before taking on the duties of Deputy Sheriff for Sheriff Richard McCluskey.
Since retiring in 2017, he and his wife have served as caregivers for his mother-in-law, volunteered for Clifton’s Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church as members of the cemetery committee, taught initiation ceremonies for adults, and served as a cemetery committee member for Clifton. of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Arizona Council of Southeast Arizona’s Aging Commission.
Saturday, September 17th kicks off with the Hispanic Heritage Car Show at the EAC’s South Thatcher Campus from 11am to 4pm. Over 60 awards for the best lowriders, hot rods, motorcycles, bikes and more.
The day concludes with the 8th Annual Hispanic Heritage Dinner and Show at the EAC’s Hoops Activity Center from 6-9pm.
Performers include Mariachi Estrella Juvenil, Mariachi Nueva Azteca de Tucson, and Compania de Danza Forlorico Arizona.
Featured speaker is Attorney Ernest Calderon.
Born and raised in Morenci, Ernesto Calderon is the son of Nelly Duarte Calderon and Albert Provencio Calderon, former Morenci and Verde Lee. His brother is Albert E. Calderon of Spokane, Washington and his sister is Elaine Calderon his McDaniel of Safford. They are the 6th generation indigenous people of what was once the New Mexico Territory.
As a student, he served as student council president and graduated from Morenci High School, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona Law School. A lifelong learner, he recently received his PhD in Education from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.
In his youth, he interned for former US Congressman Morris K. Udall, former US Senator Dennis DeConcini (both in Capitol Hall, Washington, DC), and former Governor Bruce Babbitt. Arnie was named one of the first Harry S. Truman Scholars (one per state) to represent Arizona in 1977 while he was a student at Northern Arizona University.
While in law school, he served as legal clerk to Steven C. Villarreal (also from Morenci), a prominent attorney and judge in Tucson. After graduating from law school, he served as a judicial clerk for Senior United States District Judge Walter Early Craig.
He is a legal scholar and an elected member of the prestigious American Institute of Law. Appointed by six Arizona governors (both Democrats and Republicans), Arnie has served on or led various problem-solving committees and task forces. Contemporaneous Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Arnie to the Arizona Board of Trustees, which from 2004 until 2012 he directly oversaw Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. He served as president in 2009-10 and is honored that Northern Arizona University’s student residence is named after him. He calls for equal access to higher education regardless of a student’s background or pedigree, a sometimes highly controversial one.
Ernest has practiced law in Phoenix for 40 years. He was the first person of color to be elected president of the Arizona Bar Association by an Arizona bar, and has actively participated in the review and selection of Arizona judges for over 30 years. He is a lawyer and proud to be an educator.
Arnie is the father of four grown children: Michael (Afghanistan War veteran and MBA), Stephen (new law graduate), Mary (brand new attorney), and Katherine (hard-working businesswoman from Brooklyn, NY). He and his wife Terri K. Calderón, a prominent non-profit leader in her own right, are living a frugal but happy life in Phoenix. Arnie is proud to be Eastern Arizona.
There are also announcements for Hispanic Family of the Year and Teacher of the Year.
This year’s Hispanic family members are Guadalupe Rodriguez and Linda Jean Orozco Muñoz. The couple got married on January 3, 1970. They have three children: Kimberly Ann Jacobson (Dave) born in 1970, James Guadalupe (Roxanne) born in 1971 and Amy Josephine (1972-2008). Ten grandchildren: Michael, Tiffany, Chloe, David/Ryan, Dominic/Paul, Veronica, Victoria and Roman. 19 great-grandchildren: Aiden, Joey, Riley, Madison, Emma, Ryan/Aliza, Cynthia, Eric, Izzy/LJ, Mariposa, Magdalene, Elias/Isaiah, Lily, Ethan, Aubrey, Addie.
Guadalupe worked for Boeing in Seattle before being drafted and serving as a congressman in the U.S. Army. After leaving his service, he worked as an engineer at his Magma Copper Co. in San Manuel and Phelps at his Dodge where he worked for 26 years before starting his own engineering consulting firm. rice field.
Linda owned Linda’s Child Care Services in Phoenix and Safford.
Their volunteer services include co-leaders of Catholic youth organizations, Spanish and English choirs, communion ministers, soccer and T-ball assistant coaches, and Cinco de Mayo Fiesta participants..
The Muñoz family is a proud Hispanic-American family who believe deeply in promoting education for a comfortable lifestyle, whether through college, college, school, craft, apprenticeship, or self-study. The ultimate is learning the ways of God and the power of the Holy Trinity. In other words, be diligent and follow the “right path”.
This year’s teacher is Tyree Olmedo, a lifelong resident of Gira Valley. She and her husband Sergio are expecting her first child this April.
Tyree attended school in Safford and graduated in 2015. She then completed her Bachelor of Education degree at EAC at her ASU while working full time at Federal in Washington. Tylee graduated from her ASU in 2019 and started her career as a social studies teacher for her 5th grade and her 6th grade at Pima Elementary School.
Tyree worked at Pima for three years before recently transferring to school in Safford. She now teaches at the same elementary school she attended as a child, Ruth Powell Elementary School. She continues to teach her 6th grade English Arts, Writing, Social Studies and Science.
Tyree is co-chair of the Sunshine Committee at Pima Elementary School and hopes to continue to bring a little joy and help teachers in her district and community. Tylee is passionate about technology and culture. She wants to inspire her students to consider different career paths and paths to success. Tyree also encourages students to not only learn about their own culture, but also the cultures around them, and hopes that they will feel proud of their community.
Tylee is working towards becoming a National Board certified teacher and earning her master’s degree.
For more information on weekend events, please call 928-965-9775.
