Huge congratulations to ALVA Board Member Jeyben Castro and Regional Coordinator Ernesto "E" Hernandez III on this super well-deserved recognition! Way to go! #awards #military #veteran #latino #hispanic #service #honor
Honored and Humbled to Receive the Estrella Award Last week, I had the incredible honor of being recognized as one of the Estrella Awardees at LATINO Magazine’s ESTRELLA Awards—a celebration of outstanding Latino and Latina veterans held at the historic The Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. A huge thank you to Latino Magazine and their amazing team—Alfredo Estrada, Dalia E. Almanza-Smith and Patricia Guadalupe —for hosting such a meaningful event. I’m also deeply grateful to Ruben Barrales from Wells Fargo for presenting me with this award. Sharing this recognition with such distinguished veterans was truly humbling. Congratulations to my fellow awardees: ? Luis "Chino" Leiva (GEICO) ? Andy G. (Bank of America) ? Ernesto "E" Hernandez III (Wounded Paw Project) ? Le Roy Torres (Burn Pits 360 Veterans Organization) Each of them embodies the leadership, resilience, and service that define our veteran community. One of the most special moments of the day was bringing my mother up to the stage to thank her for the sacrifices she made to bring me to the U.S. from Nicaragua. Her bravery paved the way for me to serve in the United States Navy—the world’s greatest Navy! It also meant a great deal to have my boss, John Salamone, there to support me. Having leadership that recognizes and values the contributions of veterans makes all the difference, and I truly appreciate his presence and encouragement. Even more, I was deeply grateful to have friends and loved ones there to celebrate this moment with me. Their support has been unwavering, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Moments like these are even more meaningful when shared with the people who have been by your side through it all. This award is not just mine—it belongs to my family, my community, and every Latino veteran who has served with honor. #EstrellaAwards #LatinoVeterans #VeteranLeadership #MilitaryService #LatinoMagazine #WellsFargo #HonoredToServe