Schools
Students Take Top Honors at Hispanic Leadership Conference
The top scholarship has been awarded solely to students from East Hampton in the conference's 21 years.
students won top honors at the Hispanic youth leadership conference in Albany last weekend, and their teacher was honored, as well.
Alexis Valladares, Michael Cuenca, and Brandon Sandoval Peña were selected to attend the 21st Angelo del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute along with 200 other students from around the state during the first week in April. Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor, met up with the group and introduced them to the assembly, where they met with legislators and senators.
During the three-day long conference, Sandoval Peña received the top scholarship -- $2,500 sponsored by AT&T -- and Cuenca was chosen as one of 20 scholarship recipients.
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Both students are seniors, who arrived to the United States during high school. Cuenca is from Ecuador and Sandoval Peña is from Colombia.
According to their Hispanic Leaders advisor and high school teacher Julia Palencia Sabil, "In the history of the institute, the top scholarship has only been granted three times and all have been awarded solely to students from East Hampton."
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Students had to write an essay and submit letters of recommendation to be delegates at the conference. "We are proud of all the participants," Palencia Sabil said.
Palencia Sabil was also honored at the conference for "outstanding achievement as a leader, trainer, and advisor" during her 21 years working with the youth leadership institute.
Thiele said that seven students from Southampton, East Hampton, and Hampton Bays school districts participated in the program. "The students from my district have always performed extremely well," he said. "This has been a great program that has often been a life changing experience for its participants. I am extremely proud that my Assembly District produced two scholarship winners, including the top prize. My congratulations to Michael and Brandon."
"This experience has allowed our Hispanic youth a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of the legislative process and how it impacts their community," said Kristine Swickard, Coordinator of the World Languages Department at the high school.
"Their leadership skills have been strengthened through discussions and debates on important issues, and as a result, the students feel motivated and empowered to make positive changes."
"Our students did an outstanding job representing East Hampton," she said.
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