• 2021: Gilberto Gabriel, Actor, Visual Artist, Singer/Musician; Ralina Miriam Cardona, Founder, Acrescendo.

• 2020: Teresa A. Santiago, Chairwoman, Comité Noviembre

• 2019:  Marcos A. Rivera Sánchez, Executive Director, Ministerio Buen Samaritano, (Good Samaritan Ministry) MARC

• 2018:  Christine Nieves and Luis Rodríguez Sánchez, Co-founders, Projecto de Apoyo Mutuo Mariana

• 2017:  Stephanie Llanes, Bertha Justice Institute Fellow, Center for Constitutional Rights, Government Misconduct Racial Justice

• 2016:  Richard Colón, Crazy Legs, Founder, Rock Steady Crew

• 2015: JW Cortés, Activist and Actor, Gotham

• 2014:  Johnny Lozada, Host, Univision’s Despierta América!

• 2013:  Marybeth Melendez, Graduate Student, College of Staten Island,
  Hurricane Sandy Volunteer

• 2012:  Juan González, author, journalist, columnist, New York Daily News and co-host Democracy Now!

• 2011:  Lisette Nieves, Belle Zeller Distinguished Visiting Professor in Public   Policy, CUNY & Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Blue Ridge Foundation

• 2010:  Olga Tañon, Grammy Award Winner and Latin Pop Artist

• 2009: Jesús Omar Rivera, El Boricuazo, Historian and author

• 2008:  Melina León, singer/entertainer

• 2007:  Ana Ortiz, actress and co-star, Ugly Betty

• 2006:  Daisy Martinez, Chef, Entrepreneur, and Host of Daisy Cooks

• 2005:  Frankie Negron, Salsa entertainer

• 2004:  Tito Nieves, Salsa sensation

• 2003:  Danny Rivera, Renown singer

• 2002:  Admiral Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, US Surgeon General Commander, USPHS

• 2001:  Daniel Rodriguez, NYPD Officer and Tenor

• 2000: Dave Valentin, Internationally acclaimed Salsa Jazz musician

• 1999:  “Tito” Felix Trinidad, Welter Weight Champion of the world

• 1998:  Rosie Perez, Actress and AIDS Activist

• 1997:  Tito Puente, The “King of Latin Music”

• 1996:  Jimmy Smits, Actor

• 1995:  Lauren Velez, Actress and India, Salsa singer 

• 1994:  Luis Guzman, Actor and Community Activist

• 1993:  Antonia Novello, former Surgeon General of the United States

• 1992:  Fernando Ferrer, Bronx Borough President,  and  Dr. Joseph A. Fernandez, NYC Public School Chancellor

• 1991:  Malin Falú, Radio Talk Show Host

• 1990:  Willie Colón, Musician and AIDS Activist

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