The Illustrious Awards is a signature initiative of the Institute for Latino Studies, dedicated to quality research for effective advocacy.

Formal Ceremony:

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 6pm

At the historic Paul Robeson Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102.

Watch HERE Brief Video of The 2017 Recipients.

Watch HERE a brief video of The 2017 Recipients

Click here to watch brief video showcasing the 2016 Illustrious Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Hon. Arthur O. Eve, First Dominican Elected to Public Office in the United States of America.

More Moving Reflections from 2016 Illustrious Awards Honorees

The Illustrious Awards Ceremony, a signature initiative of The Institute for Latino Studies, documents and highlights the contributions of Tri-State Area Latinos to the advancement of the United States of America. The contributions of Latino icons are video-featured and honored in a professionally produced formal ceremony and Collectible Tribute Journal.

The selection process

Nomination of candidates is made by boards of education, institutions of higher learning, professional associations/organizations, chambers of commerce, community organizations, government institutions, and the general public in fifteen (15) areas: Arts, Business & Entrepreneurship, Education, Television & Entertainment, Drama & Film, Government, Social Sciences, Judiciary & Law Enforcement, Leadership, Literature, Politics, Religion, Military, Natural Sciences, and Sports.

The Institute’s Illustrious Awards Selection Committee, composed by representatives of the judged fields of work, selects three finalists per category, based on the following criteria:

1. Nominee must be of Latino descent and residing in the United States
2. Nominee has at least twenty years of experience in her/his field (years of experience may be substituted 5 years per 1 major accomplishment)
3. Nominee must have at least one major accomplishment in her/his field

The honoree in each category will be the finalist with the highest point average in judged areas..

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