Latin Chamber of Commerce hands out honors

The Latin Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the 2007 LCC Awards at the 25th annual awards gala held Nov. 2 at Paris Las Vegas.

Randy Garcia, the founder and chief executive officer of the Investment Council Company, an investment management consulting firm, received the Arturo Cambeiro Hispanic of the Year Award. Garcia, a Las Vegas resident since 1957, serves on the board of directors for several community organizations including, the Nevada Community Foundation, Scoutreach Program for the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts and the Council for a Better Nevada. Garcia also sponsors enrichment programs for at-risk youth through the Clark County School District and the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Other award recipients include: Raul and Maria Gil, the owners of Casa Don Juan restaurant, received the Business Entrepreneur Award; Maria Marinch, president and founder of Language Sources for the LCC, received the Professional Services Award; Sue Brooks of Helping Kids Clinic, was awarded the Medical and Health Services Award; Carlos Campos, the interim vice president of academic affairs at the College of Southern Nevada, received the Education Award; Nevada Power President Donald L. "Pat" Shalmy was awarded the Community Service Award; state Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, D-Las Vegas, received the Public Service Award; Gonzalo de Varona, vice president of casino marketing at the Las Vegas Hilton, received the Tourism Award; Carlos Elorza, vice president of sales and marketing for WestStar Entertainment, was awarded the Arts and Entertainment Award; American Family Insurance was given the Outstanding Business Entity Award; and José A. Elique received the President's Award for Law Enforcement.

* Six students majoring in construction management and civil engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have been named recipients of the David Padadopulo Memorial Scholarship.

The recipients are: Noe Santos, Anton Vialtsin, Christopher Parker, Hamid Rahmati, Long Pham and Matthew Newman. Each student will receive a $3,500 scholarship.

The Nevada Contractors Association, a nonprofit industry trade group, awards the scholarship in honor of Padadopulo, vice president of Olson Precast Co., who passed away in 2006.

* The Paralyzed Veterans of America have awarded Las Vegas resident Caitlin Thorn a $1,000 scholarship. The Paralyzed Veterans Educational Scholarship Program, which began in 1996, awarded 14 students nationwide. Thorn attends the University of Arizona.

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