Thomas Mayes, M.D., M.B.A., interim dean of the Medical School, announced the kick off of the 2005 Hispanic Heritage Week at the opening ceremony yesterday.
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Hispanic Heritage Week began with a vivacious opening ceremony Monday when Hispanic Excellence Awards were presented and the Washington Irving Middle School Mariachis serenaded the audience with a number of traditional tunes.

“This is a celebration to embrace a culture,” said Thomas Mayes, M.D., M.B.A., interim dean of the Medical School. “Each of our schools leads the nation in numbers of Hispanic students and faculty, and we are proud of the role we play in furthering health care in Hispanics.”

Among the platform guests were Dr. Mayes; Robin Froman, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the School of Nursing; Marilyn Harrington, Ph.D., dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences; Sophia Piña, Ph.D., assistant dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; and Ramon Baez, D.D.S., professor of general dentistry. Sylvia Knopp, administrative assistant in the Medical Hispanic Center of Excellence (MHCOE), and Juan Parra, M.D., associate director of the MHCOE, played vital roles in making the ceremony a success. Several other faculty, staff and students joined the celebration, as well.

The Washington Irving Middle School Mariachis provided music and entertainment.

Hispanic Excellence Awards were presented in the faculty, staff and student categories, and each recipient was honored with a plaque. Susana Narvaez-Godinez, accounting group supervisor in the office of special programs, was the staff member recipient of the Hispanic Excellence Award; and Juan Armando Garcia, M.D., assistant professor of pulmonary disease, was the faculty member recipient. The students who received Hispanic Excellence Awards were Jessica Julissa Santos, School of Allied Health Sciences, and Hayde McCab-Garza, Dental School.

“As Hispanics, each recipient has shown strong success and dedication in their respective areas at the Health Science Center,” Dr. Parra said. “They deserve to be recognized.”

The ceremony ended with dancing and singing to the mariachi music played by the seventh- and eighth-graders.

The MHCOE is sponsoring Hispanic Heritage Week this year. Hispanic Heritage Week is celebrated during the week of September 16 (16 de Septiembre: El Grito de Independencia) – the day Mexico received independence from the Spanish rule.

If you missed the opening ceremony, you can still celebrate throughout the week:
• A scientific poster display designed by Health Science Center Hispanic students will be held Wednesday, September 14 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Medical School lecture hall foyer.
• A photograph exhibit, called “Children of Las Colonias: Through Our Own Lenses,” will be displayed in the auditorium foyer all week.