By Jeff Walker
Features Editor
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The type of women Leonard Cantu is looking to honor have “broken glass ceilings.”
The San Marcos Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for Hispanic Women of the Year. The three finalists will be honored at the chamber’s first Honoring Influential Women in Hays County Award Ceremony at 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. A winner will be chosen that night.
“These women can be in education, in business, in teaching. They can be just a teacher who has made a tremendous impact on students or faculty,” Cantu, the Hispanic Chamber president, said. “We’re looking for those trendsetters who have made a dent in the progress of Hispanic women in our community.”
The Hispanic Chamber has worked closely with Texas State University interns and campus groups like Uniendo Nuestras Organizaciones to conceive an event that both honored women and did so during Hispanic Heritage Month.
According to Cantu, Hispanic women-owned businesses are out pacing other women-owned businesses by a ratio of 6 to 1. Women in the US are also graduating college at a higher rate than men. The Hispanic business market is a $1.1 trillion market, with $390 billion being represented in Texas.
“It’s time to celebrate that,” Cantu said. “Women are the staple of our family life and our community. They are making gains in the public life.”
To nominate a local HIspanic woman, write a 500-word essay describing why your nominee is a candidate for this award, along with a list of accomplishments and achievements and a bio and/or resume. Send nominations to honorwomen@sanmarcoshispanic.com.
Deadline for application is Sept. 20.
