Eastern Connecticut State University Student Michael Pina Receives Latin American Distinguished Service Award

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Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa Nunez with winners of Eastern’s Latin American Distinguished Service Award (L to R) William Rivera, Lourdes Montalvo, and student Mike Pina.,

WILLIMANTIC, CT (04/26/2011)(readMedia)-- Eastern Connecticut State University honored student Michael Pina on April 20 at this year's Latin American Distinguished Service Awards.

The Latin American Distinguished Service Award honors those who have demonstrated initiative within the Willimantic, CT community by exhibiting a personal commitment to positive Latino youth development; providing leadership in serving the needs of the Latino community; and promoting and advancing the Latino community.

"Bienvendios a Eastern," said President Elsa Nunez in her opening remarks. "Every child up until nine months is developmentally the exact same. Every child is born with the same chance to succeed, however not every child is given the same resources to do so. People work hard in this great state of Connecticut to succeed and we need to do a lot more to provide the resources so that those families of lower income can also prosper. Tonight, we honor those who have overcome these barriers to make a difference, and I thank you all for what you have done; we are all greater for it."

Michael Pina, a sophomore from Everett, MA, majoring in sociology, was honored as the student recipient. Susan Heyward, director of the Advising Center describes Pina as a student who is "well-rounded and engaging and an extraordinarily bright, articulate and mature young man." As a freshman, Pina spent 10 days in Kingston, Jamaica, helping children with cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome; served as president for Winthrop Residence Hall; as secretary on the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) student club; and as a senator in the Student Government Association, where he became vice president during his sophomore year.

Pina currently serves as the head student advisor of the Dual Enrollment Program; is a member of Men Achieving Leadership Excellence and Service (MALES), the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) and the Willimantic Rotary Club; and is a program coordinator and office assistant in the Intercultural Center.

The faculty and staff award was presented to William Rivera, a custodian in Eastern's facilities and management and planning department and Lourdes Montalvo '06, who received the community member award for her services as commissioner for the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, which fosters progress and development in Latino communities in Connecticut.

Eastern Connecticut State University is part of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) and is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves more than 5,000 students each year on its Willimantic campus.