Adriana Tamez, center, stands with other winners at the 19th Annual Willie Velasquez Hispanic Excellence Awards Gala, hosted by Tejano Center for Community Concerns and Telemundo Houston. Photo submitted.

From a press release:

World-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Rafael Espada, Vice President of Guatemala, and Mayor Bill White, joined Tejano Center for Community Concerns’ President and CEO, Richard Farias, in honoring the 2009 Willie Velasquez Hispanic Excellence Award winners at the agency’s recent gala:

• Education
Adriana Tamez, Houston Independent School District Central Region Superintendent

• Community Service
Ben Mendez, President and CEO of Project Management Group, LLC

• Business
Gregory D. Compean, President and Owner, Compean Funeral Home, Inc.

• Health
Dr. Patsy Rubio Cano, Chief for the Bureau of Health Promotion and Education, City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services

These outstanding individuals who follow the Legacy of Excellence of Willie Velasquez were honored at the 19th Annual Willie Velasquez Hispanic Excellence Awards Gala, held on Friday, October 30, 2009, at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston.

Farias said, “The individuals honored this year have demonstrated excellence in each of their respective fields and I could not be more pleased with the choice of recipients.” The four winners were selected by previous honorees.

Additional winners were,

• President’s Award
Randle Richardson, CEO of Community Education Partners

• Special Recognition Award
State Representative Carol Alvarado, Texas House of Representatives, District 145

Hosted annually by Telemundo Houston, the gala benefited the Tejano Center for Community Concerns and its charter school, the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success. Guests enjoyed a silent auction featuring striking and unusual items from precious stones and fine jewelry to exotic local retreats, followed by a reception with Vice President Espada. Following the gala program, guests danced the night away to the sounds of DJ Jose Diaz, who played a vast range of favorites from Oldies to Salsa.

With a sold-out house, gala organizers agreed that this was the most successful event in the gala’s 19-year history.