The 2018 Steering Committee of the Maryland Hispanic Gala (MHG) announces that The Honorable Maryland State Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk will be the recipient of the 2018 «Advocate of the Year» Award to be presented during the gala celebration on September 13, 2018 to take place at The Fillmore Silver Spring.
Delegate Peña-Melnyk was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006, where she continues to represent parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties. Prior to that, she served two terms on the College Park City Council.
After receiving her law degree, Delegate Peña-Melnyk pursued a successful career as a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.,
as a defense attorney, and as an advocate for neglected and abused children.
«We are thrilled to honor Delegate Peña-Melnyk this year. She is a tireless advocate for people in the margins who are often overlooked. She has sponsored important legislation in the areas of public health and is committed to making Maryland stronger, fairer and more inclusive,» said Karla Silvestre, Maryland Hispanic Gala Awards Committee Chair.
She serves on the Health and Government Operations Committee, Chairs the Public Health and Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee, and is a member of the Government Operations and Estates and Trusts Subcommittee. In 2017, the Delegate was appointed to co-chair the Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission, a 3-year effort to preserve affordable access to health care for Maryland residents.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk graduated from Buffalo State College and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Maryland State Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk will receive the award alongside Montgomery County Public Schools Principal Alicia Morales Deeny who is the recipient of the «Educator of the Year» Award.
«Public Service» Award recipient will be announced shortly.
The Maryland Hispanic Gala is a 100% volunteer-run 501c3 organization committed to assisting youth achieve a high level of education. Funds raised support the Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship Program which provides financial assistance to qualifying students from diverse communities enrolled in Maryland higher learning institutions.
The Maryland Hispanic Gala serves to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.
To become an event Sponsor, Donate or to Purchase Tickets, visit:
www.MarylandHispanicGala.org
