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Miss HAAC 2011 now looking for contestants |
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The Miss Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County Scholarship Pageant 2011 is now accepting applications from Latina students ages 14-19 who attend any of the Atlantic County high schools. An orientation meeting will be held at the EHT Ready to Ride Center located at 2590 Ridge Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30p.m. All interested students must meet the following requirements in order to apply as a contestant for the pageant: - Between the ages of 14 to 19 years old (must show proof of age)
- Must not have any children
- Must be single, never have been married, nor may she have cohabited with a male in-lieu of marriage
- Good character
- Must be of Hispanic Descent
- Speaks Spanish and English
- Resident of Atlantic County
- High school student with Cumulative Grade of 80 (B-) or higher (proof required)
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher
- Recent Photo, no larger than 2x3-wallet size (Include with application)
- Must be available to participate in future community events
Can't make the orientation meeting? Download the application here e-mail to:misshaac@gmail.com or send to: Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic CountyAttn: Miss HAAC PageantP.O. Box 7507Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 DEADLINE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2011 1st Practice Wednesday, January 19, 2011 If you have any questions, please contact Ingrid Clark, Director at (609)412-7421 or misshaac@gmail.com |
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Atlantic City High School senior's comfort as role model helps her become Miss Hispanic Alliance |
Atlantic City High School senior's comfort as role model helps her become Miss Hispanic AlliancePRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY By FELICIA COMPIAN, Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, June 9, 2010  Miss Hispanic Alliance Nayhelie Fermil-Taveras, center, was flanked by first runner-up Sarah Aguire, right, 15, of Egg Harbor Township, and second runner-up Amanda Martinez, left, 15, of Pleasantville. The Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Nayhelie Fermil-Taveras, who won the Miss Hispanic Alliance Scholarship Pageant in May. During the talent portion of the pageant, the Atlantic City High School senior danced to a medley of merengue, bachatta and modern dance music, popular styles in her native Dominican Republic. But it was during the interview segment that Miss Hispanic Alliance 2010 hit a sweet spot. Hispanic Alliance President Manny Aponte said the nonprofit organization focuses its philanthropic endeavors on furthering the education and training of young leaders in the Hispanic community. Whether the contestants are headed to a four-year college or a trade school, the alliance awards the money for post-secondary school tuition. During the interview portion of the pageant, Fermil-Taveras was asked to describe a Hispanic woman whom she felt made an impact on history and describe what she personally learned from the role model. "I said I consider that Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court judge, has changed history because she showed that with dedication and education, anything is possible," the 17-year-old said. "To me, she showed that education and dedication are the key to whatever I propose to do with my life." A 4.0 GPA student, Fermil-Taveras said she was inspired by watching a TV presenter on Primer Impacto to pursue a career in journalism. She plans to study communication at Kean University this fall, and she practices her radio-news skills on her high school radio station WAJM-FM 88.9. A painter from the age of 8, Fermil-Taveras said she also uses dance and writing as creative outlets. She said she loves to read, and she hopes to see her stories and poems published one day. Aponte said private scholarships such as this one are more important now that state programs such as NJ STARS are offering less financial aid. "It absolutely makes any independent scholarship more important because it's useful at any institute of higher learning," Aponte said. "The great thing about Nayhelie is, not only did she win the contest, but she was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. She's a well rounded candidate overall, and she'll do a great job (as Miss Hispanic Alliance.)" Asked what she thought gave her the advantage, Fermil-Taveras said, "I don't think I was the prettiest or the tallest or the thinnest, and I know I wasn't the best dressed. But maybe it's because I put my whole heart into it and the judges saw it was from my heart. I feel like I embodied a Latina role model in that moment." Aponte said the Hispanic Alliance seeks to foster leadership and further education within the Hispanic community, but it does no discriminate against non-Hispanics. He said members of Latino heritage strive to find a balance between assimilation in the U.S. and maintaining their national language and customs. The organization also sponsors a weekend youth summit during which children are groomed to be peer leaders in their schools. For more information go to www.haac.org. Contact Felicia Compian: 609-272-7209 FCompian@pressofac.com Posted in ATLANTIC-CITY PLEASANTVILLE BRIGANTINE on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:00 am |
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Luisa Berrio nueva reina de la Alianza Hispana de A.C. |
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• Por Elvia Montero l Especial para Nuestra Comunidad La Alianza Hispana del Condado de Atlantic (HAAC por su sigla en inglés) realizó su 17º Concurso Señorita Alianza Hispana, el domingo 26 de abril, en el Club Music Box del Borgata Casino. Luisa Berrio fue coronada Señorita Alianza Hispana 2009 y como premio recibió una beca de 2.000 dólares para continuar con sus estudios universitarios. El espectáculo de música y luces contó con una apertura de baile creada por la coreógrafa Luz Martínez en el que participaron todas las concursantes. Lekisha Acevedo, Luisa Berrio, Angélica Brown, Paola Florido, Esther Lora, Amanda Martínez, Daimis Ortiz, Katherine Peralta. Eunice Puerto y Joselyne Rodríguez fueron las participantes que desfilaron y presentaron sus talentos ante el jurado. A su vez, la Señorita Alianza Hispana 2008, Emily Cortez, hizo su última pasada por el escenario y aprovechó para agradecer a la Alianza Hispana por la beca recibida y por el honor de haber representado con orgullo durante un año a esta institución. Ingrid Clark, directora del concurso, explicó que para elegir la mejor cada aspirante, todas estudiantes de secundaria, tenían que demostrar sus talentos, carácter, personalidad e inteligencia.
El jurado, integrado por Beatrice Caraballo, Jenee Alicia Chizick, Edward Rosado y Margarita Santiago, calificó a las concursantes en vestido de gala, talento, habilidad de comunicación, y la calidad de respuesta ante la pregunta principal del jurado.
Finalmente, tras una velada de lujo, se eligió como reina a Luisa Berrio, de origen colombiano y estudiante de la Escuela Secundaria Egg Harbor Township.
Daimis Ortiz, de herencia puertorriqueña y estudiante de la Escuela Secundaria Oakcrest, fue coronada primera Princesa y elegida por sus compañeras como Señorita Amistad.
En tanto, Eunice Puerto, de origen hondureño y estudiante de la Escuela Secundaria Egg Harbor Township, fue elegida Duquesa.
Tras la coronación, Luisa Berrio expresó que se sentía orgullosa y muy emocionada por haber ganado. “Yo no me imaginaba que iba a ganar”, confesó la joven reina de tan solo 14 años. A su vez, su madre Milena Alzate manifestó sentirse contenta y orgullosa de su hija mientras buscaba volver a abrazar a su hija mientras familiares y amigos la acaparaban para tomarse fotos.
En el cierre de la ceremonia, el actual presidente de HAAC, Moisés Delgado, agradeció a la audiencia y comentó que si bien es su primer año al frente de la organización, espera que se mantenga fuerte para seguir brindando a la comunidad todo lo que este a su alcance. Además, aprovechó la oportunidad para invitar a todos los que deseen ser parte de esta entidad de base hispana para seguir sirviendo a la comunidad. Originally published May 1, 2009 |
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Three Kings Day Celebrated in Atlantic City |
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Originally Posted by NBC40.net ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic County's Hispanic Alliance threw a 3 Kings Day party for children at the Atlantic City Convention Center. On the twelfth day of Christmas, these kids got… Elmo? The original Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthatsar came bearing gold, frakincense and myrrh, but on this 3 Kings Day, gifts were age and gender appropriate. 3 Kings Day is actually Sunday. It marks the end of Epiphany, the time on the Christian calendar when wise men from the East came to give the baby Jesus gifts and warn Mary and Joseph of danger. And in many Hispanic countries it's a big part of celebrating Christmas. "What we used to do as a child we would take a little shoe box, put it under the bed, we would have a little hay and that would be for the 3 kings to come and they would leave us presents," said Manny Aponte of the Atlantic County Hispanic Alliance. Toys for Tots, Catholic Charities and Atlanticare were among the contributors that supplied more than 500 kids with a fun morning, topped with gifts. "I think it reflects the Hispanic community in Atlantic City and Atlantic County in general, we have some families that are needy and were not able to provide gifts around Christmas time," said Jorge Coombs of the Atlantic County Hispanic Alliance. More than just presents, organizers hope kids receive a better understanding what they're family's traditions are. "Children may or may not understand but something tangle like seeing the 3 wise men, they understand," said Aponte. Community leaders say being American and Hispanic is not the same for every child. "Even though many people here are used to celebrating certain traditions such as 3 kings, there are people here today that are part of our community that didn't celebrate this tradition," said Coombs. And while the 3 gift-bearing kings may not look much like Santa, they can deliver the same smiles, and occasional tears. |
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2008 Luis A. Molina Scholarship Recipients |
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The Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2008 Luis A. Molina Scholarship. Atlantic County, May 8, 2008 The Luis A. Molina Scholarship is awarded annually to graduating Latino students in Atlantic County high schools pursuing a college education. The scholarship is ased on merit and academic achievement, not on financial need. This year, two students from local high schools were selected to be the recipients of this award. Each student will receive $2,000 to be paid in $500 installments over their 4 years college career. The Festival Latino-Americano is the main fundraising event for the Luis A. Molina Scholarship fund. To date, the Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) has awarded over $120,000 of the festival’s proceeds to Hispanic high school graduates in recognition of their superior academic performance, outstanding leadership ability, and exceptional extracurricular involvement. 2008 Recipients of the Luis A. Molina Scholarship
Christina M. Santiago (Hammonton High School)
Alice Servellon (Absegami High School) |
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On Wednesday, October 10th, 2007, students from five Atlantic County high schools joined together at Stockton College to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with an exploration of the music and the folk and traditional art forms of Cuba and the Caribbean. Students participated in a series of hands-on workshops presented by the Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County in collaboration with the International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF). The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey hosted the project, which included hands-on drumming workshops with percussionist Michael Hoebler focused on Afro-Cuban Rhythms, as well as an exploration of the traditional and folk arts of the Caribbean through visual art projects facilitated by the IHOBF staff. The Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation that represents the interests and concerns of Atlantic County’s rapidly growing Hispanic population. Its year-round programs and activities are organized and coordinated by non-paid volunteers and the HAAC board of trustees. For more information about this program, or other programs offered by the Alliance, please contact Sabrina Tracy, Information Officer, at (609) 412-7421or via e-mail at hispanic.alliance@yahoo.com. The IHOBF is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that promote cultural understanding and creative expression. IHOBF programs teach about American culture and history through music and folk art, highlight diverse contributions to American culture and support youth participation in the arts. Program offerings and resources support teachers in their efforts to integrate the arts and related cultural content into classroom curricula, and encourage students to develop and express their creative abilities. For additional information about this project, or for information about other IHOBF programs, please contact Pamela Ward, Program Director, at (609) 343-5782 or via e-mail at Pamela.ward@hob.com. |
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