May 28, 2009 on 10:51 pm

Hilda Solis, the U.S. Labor Secretary, was presented with a unique Bennett recognition award by the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), one of the largest Latino nonprofit organizations in the United States. Secretary Solis, the highest ranking Latino in the U.S. government, received the Bennett recognition award “Eternal Spirit” as the first-ever American Latina Spirit Award. The Eternal Spirit recognition award, designed by Bennett Awards artist Bob Bennett, was presented to Secretary Solis in recognition of two decades of courageous leadership and historic accomplishments in public service.

Secretary Solis received this unique award as part of MAOF’s thirty-third annual National Hispanic Women’s Conference. This event, the nation’s longest running conference on Latina empowerment, was held on May 22, 2009 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Over 2,000 Latinas were in attendance.

In addition to the recognition award presented to Secretary Solis, five other unique Bennett Recognition Awards were presented to Latinas who have excelled in various other professional fields. The “Aspire” recognition awards, designed by Bennett Awards artist MK Shannon, were presented to five exemplary Latinas: Julie Stav, financial expert and host of Tu Dinero con Julie Stav; Chef Lala, celebrity chef, nutritionist and author; Lora J. Villarreal, EVP & Chief People Officer at ACS; Milka Duno, professional race car driver; and Concepcion Rueda Gomez, Mexican Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples. Award winning journalist Elizabeth Espinosa served as the mistress of ceremony for the event.

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