logo-viva-tampa-transparent
Facebook Youtube Twitter Instagram

 

October, 2023

The Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage award recognition ceremony. Honoring our Hispanic American First Responders, Firefighters, Police Officers, Gold Star families, teachers and Veteran

Distinguished First Responders Award:
 

2023 Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Community Heroes Awards

During Hispanic Heritage month, Mayor Jane Castor, Spanish Broadcasting System, El Zol 97.1 FM and Course of Action Foundation, Publix and McDonalds prides itself on recognizing military Hispanic heroes, Gold Star families, first responders and teachers in the Tampa community.  
 
Hispanic heritage is an integral part of Florida and the City of Tampa’s history. Within Tampa, Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Colombian, Spanish, and Puerto Rican cultures and influences have shaped the city. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to recognize some of our community heroes that have contributed to shaping our city through business, government, public safety, national defense and education.
 
The Course of Action Foundation is proud to recognize members of the community who have impacted and dedicated their lives to improve ours. 
 
We congratulate this year’s ViVa Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Community Heroes Award recipients and hard working community leaders and for all they do to help the community and help others. Many thanks to Mayor Jane Castor for the special message to all the award recipients. Special thanks to the Aviles family who were this year’s Gold Star Family. 
 
Gold Star Family Recognition
In Memory of LCpl Andrew J. Aviles, United States Marine Corp KIA 07 April 2003 Central IRAQ, Served During Operation Iraqi Freedom
 
Mrs. Martha Baez
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND COMMUNITY VETERAN AWARD
 
Corporal David Arias
PASCO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
 
Lieutenant Martha Murillo
TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT
 
Master Detective Carlos Cuevas
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
 
Captain Edward Ortiz
Firefighter of the Year
TAMPA FIRE RESCUE
 
Special Agent Maria A. Guzman
HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS
 
Melissa Morgado
Excellence in Education Award-Educator of the Year
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS
 
 Mr. Larry Cacciatore
TAMPA AMIGO COMMUNITY LEADER AWARD
 
Thank you Crown Trophy Tampa for the beautiful award plaques.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors. 
ZOL 97.1 FM
Gemini Industries Inc. 
Starbucks 
Course of Action Foundation 
Crown Trophy Tampa
The Room Marketing 
Mayor Jane Castor 
Crown Trophy Tampa

 

October, 2022

The Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage award recognition ceremony. Honoring our Hispanic American First Responders, Firefighters, Police Officers, Gold Star families, teachers and Veterans.

2022 Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Community Heroes Awards

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, congratulations to all the 2022 ViVa Tampa Bay Community Heroes Award winners.

Congratulations to:

Deputy Alexander Maldonado-Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Ricardo Ortiz-Pasco County Sheriff’s Office

Officer Hector Zurita-Tampa Police Department

Driver-Engineer Angelo Santos-Martinez-Tampa Fire Rescue

Sheriff Chris Nocco-Pasco County Sheriff’s Office

Tampa Military Gold Star Family-Mrs. Jeanette L. Nazario

Special Agent Celita Horn-Homeland Security Investigations

Araseli Martinez-Pena-Hillsborough County Public Schools

Gunnery Sergeant Edgar Villafane Tarrats-United States Central Command

Thank you to our partners and sponsors. 
ZOL 97.1
Gemini Industries Inc. 
Starbucks 
Course of Action Foundation 
Crown Trophy Tampa
The Room Marketing
SOFWERX
Mayor Jane Castor 
Crown Trophy Tampa

The Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage award recognition ceremony. Honoring our Hispanic american First Responders, Firefighters, Police Officers, Gold Star families, teachers and Veterans. 

October, 2021

The Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage award recognition ceremony. Honoring our Hispanic american First Responders, Firefighters, Police Officers, Gold Star families, teachers and Veterans.

Distinguished First Responders Award:
 
-Master Deputy Alberto Taveras of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
 
-Sgt. David Michaelson of the Tampa Police Department 
 
-Deputy Sheriff and Chief Pilot John Perez, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
 
-Rafael Pizano, firefighter with Tampa Fire Rescue
 
Distinguished Federal law enforcement community award:
 
-Special Agent Carlos Carrasquillo with Homeland Security Investigations
 
Excellence in Education Award- Educator of the year:
 
-Druci Diaz, Hillsborough Co. School District Program Advisor 
 
Gold Star Family award:
 
-In honor of Eugene J. Lopez of the 4th Marine Division USMC who died in combat at Kia Iwo Jima.
 
Amigo and Amiga award:
 
-Victoria Bondoc of Gemini Industries
 
-Jay Collins, U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Veteran and Purple Heart recipient
Thank you to our partners and sponsors. 
Rumba 106.5
Due Amici Sauces 
Gemini Industries Inc. 
Starbucks 
Course of Action Foundation 
Crown Trophy Tampa
The Room Marketing
Tampa Marriott Water Street 
Mayor Jane Castor 
Crown Trophy Tampa

The Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage award recognition ceremony. Honoring our Hispanic american First Responders, Firefighters, Police Officers, Gold Star families, teachers and Veterans. 

October, 2020

We congratulate the 2020 ViVa Tampa Bay award winners. Honorees are selected by their respective peers for his or her outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality of life and advancement of the Tampa community. The diversity of Florida’s people and cultures truly makes Tampa one of the most vibrant communities’ in the country. We go the extra mile by proudly recognizing our men and women in uniform every single year.

Distinguished First Responders Award:
 
-Detective Rosmelynn Angelakopoulous. Tampa Police Department
 
-Detective Pedro Leos. Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
 
-Master Detective Manrique Diaz. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
 
-Driver Engineer Alberto Arias. Tampa Fire Rescue
 
Distinguished Federal law enforcement community award:
 
-Special Agent Luis Aquino. Homeland Security Investigations
 
Distinguished military service member award:
 
-Yeoman First class Adam Garcia
 
Excellence in Education Award- Educator of the year:
 
– Eveleen Garcia, District Bilingual school counselor 
 
Amigo and Amiga award:
 
-Kathy Koch and the Aeromed team at Tampa General Hospital
 
Gold Star Family Recognition:
 
-Carlos and Catherine Del Castillo
IN MEMORY OF 1LT Dimitri A. Del Castillo
Thank you to our partners and sponsors. 
Gemini Industries
Starbucks
Rice N’ Beans
Crown Trophy
Rumba 106.5
The Room Marketing 
Marriot Water Street Hotel and Marina
Course of Action Foundation. 
Special thank you to Mayor Jane Castor for hosting the awards.

VIVA TAMPA BAY FIRST RESPONDERS, MILITARY & COMMUNITY AWARD PRESENTATIONS

October 3, 2019

We congratulate the 2019 ViVa Tampa Bay award winners. Honorees are selected by their respective peers for his or her outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality of life and advancement of the Tampa community. The diversity of Florida’s people and cultures truly makes Tampa one of the most vibrant communities’ in the country. We go the extra mile by proudly recognizing our men and women in uniform every single year.

GOLD STAR MOTHER AWARD

IGNACIA SEIJA

HUMANITARIAN AND AMIGA AWARD

Mayor Jane Castor

HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY AWARD 

MARISOL DIEGUEZ

HUMANITARIAN & AMIGO AWARD

Bill Miller CEO OF BREEDLOVE FOODS

TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR

MASTER POLICE OFFICER JEFF SANCHEZ

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPUTY OF THE YEAR

CORPORAL MANUEL GONZALEZ

PASCO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY OF THE YEAR

BRIAN HERNANDEZ

TAMPA FIRE RESCUE, FIRE INVESTIGATOR-

FRANK ROSETE

DISTINGUISHED VETERAN COMMUNITY AWARD OF THE YEAR

MR. NATHAN CRUZ DISTINGUISHED

SOLDIER OF THE YEAR

TSGT LUIS CASAS

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

ANA ELIZABETH SANCHEZ

COMMUNITY HUMANITARIAN AWARD

LUIS JUARBE
logo-viva-tampa-transparent

Information