WORCESTER—Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) hosted the 39th annual Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence (HACE) Awards on Nov. 21, honoring 28 Worcester and Southbridge high school students, along with one QCC student, with scholarships for their achievements in arts, academics, athletics, and leadership.
Since its inception, the HACE program has awarded more than $230,000 to 850 students in Central Massachusetts.
“Tonight, we honor students from Worcester and Southbridge, places near and dear to my heart,” said HACE Chair Gilmarie Vongphakdy, QCC’s coordinator of the Future Focus Program, during the event. “It is an honor to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable young Latinos.”
The evening’s keynote speaker, Masielle “Massy” Paulino, director of Ritmos Dance Company and a former HACE recipient, reflected on the values of culture, community, and connection. “I’m proud of the culture I come from and the resilience of our people,” she said.
Cultural performances by Ritmos Dance Company and Flamenco Worcester added vibrancy to the celebration. QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja closed the event with words of encouragement for the students: “You are the leaders and the hope for tomorrow… Keep striving and be path setters for those who come behind you.”
Special Awards
- Marlyn Reyes Memorial Community Leadership Award: Elyna Peluyera, Abby Kelley Foster Charter School
- Olga López-Hill Community Leadership Award: Angelina Gonzalez, Quinsigamond Community College
- Dolly Vázquez Cultural Award: Janee Bonilla, North High School
2024 Scholarship Recipients
- Jheral Siguencia Altamirano, Burncoat High School
- Ashley Alvarenga, Worcester Technical High School
- Melina Fana Aquini, University Park Campus School
- Michael Arellano, Doherty Memorial High School
- Janee Bonilla, North High School
- Ashley Bonilla, North High School
- Joselyn Carrion, North High School
- Jubilee Castillo, Abby Kelley Foster Charter
- Leire Cuberes, South High Community School
- Pau Cuberes, South High Community School
- Gabriel Froes Froes, Doherty High
- Crissary Fuentes, Doherty High School
- Lilianna Gonzalez, Burncoat High School
- Angelina Gonzalez, Quinsigamond Community College
- Jeandry Hernandez, Worcester North High School
- Kevyn Urias Lopez, University Park Campus School
- Yariel Lopez, Burncoat High School
- Nyhia Ortiz, Southbridge High School
- Elyna Peluyera, Abby Kelley Foster Charter
- Legacy Perdomo, Worcester Technical High School
- Caiden Porter, Bancroft School
- Alexis Ramos, Southbridge High School
- Yaraceli Reyes, Burncoat High School
- Eileen Rodriguez, South High Community School
- Demetrie Romero, Bancroft School
- Julian Ruiz-Rosado, Abby Kelley Foster Charter
- Esther Talhadas, Worcester Technical High School
- Zuleika Trejo, University Park Campus School
- Oscar Vazquez, Southbridge High School
