CLAC Latino Awards Achievement Night 2013

In what has become a yearly tradition for the Latino community since the late 1970s, the Chicano Latino Advisory Committee (CLAC) honored Latino students with their very own ceremony at Pattengill Academy. On Wednesday, May 8, 2013 about 123 students were honored for their upcoming Graduation from the Lansing School District (LSD) with an estimated crowd of 250 in attendance. On hand for the keynote was Elena Herrada who sits on the Detroit Public School Board along with several LSD staff and School Board members. Four scholarships valued at $500 each were awarded and thanks to a partnership with Olivet College, one valued over $80,000 was handed out for the eleventh time since June of 2008. With Nellie Ruperto entertaining everyone with her wonderful voice, Graduates from Everett, Eastern, Sexton and the Advance Path Academy were honored for their commitment to education with many of them heading towards higher education. On hand presenting the Olivet Scholarship to Everett Grad Cindy Espinosa-Gonzalez was Lansing School District Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul who also happens to be an Olivet Grad herself. The CLAC meets monthly during the school year and has been a resource for parents and students since 1970. Co-Chairs for the year were Melina Lerma and Barb Gonzales.