Hispanic Public Relations Association® Honors Industry's Best and Awards Scholarships at 27th Annual PRemio Awards

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), the leading non-profit organization founded to advance the careers of Hispanics in the field of communications, celebrated an evening of excellence at its 27th Annual PRemio Awards and Scholarships Gala held Thursday, October 6, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. The organization awarded scholarships to students entering the communications field, honored Hispanic industry leaders, and the best in Hispanic public relations campaigns.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111010/LA83119)

HPRA presented $11,000 in scholarships to five Southern California Hispanic students pursuing a career in Public Relations and related communications fields.

• Adriana Maciel de Guillen – Cal State University, Dominguez Hills
• Amber Varnes – Cal State University, Fullerton
• Gladys Santos – Cal State University, Fullerton
• Paula Duran – Cal State University, Northridge
• Rudy Raya – Sacramento State University

Amber Varnes received the Esther Renteria Community Service Award for her community service involvement. This special recognition is given in memory of industry leader and community activist Esther Renteria, co-founder of the National Hispanic Media Coalition and a former HPRA president.

This year's Public Relations Professional honorees were Angela Sustaita-Ruiz and Manny Ruiz, co-founders of Hispanicize and Hispanic PR Blog, for their work in helping advance the Hispanic PR industry. Goya Foods was presented with the Corporation of the Year award for 75 years of commitment to the U.S. Hispanic market.  Other honorees included: Young PR Professional Denisse Montalvan of Ketchum and Journalist Hector Tobar, columnist with the Los Angeles Times.

The event honored national campaigns showing excellence in Hispanic Public Relations with the coveted Campaign of the Year PRemio. The winners were:

• Non-Profit: Lopez Negrete Communications for the first mariachi opera, "Houston Grand Opera's Cruzar la Cara de la Luna"
• Food and Beverage: "Honey Purity" - RL Public Relations for its work with the National Honey Board
• Technology: Edelman for "Kinetic for Xbox 360"
• Public Education – Corporation: VPE Public Relations & McDonald's® for its work on "Expanding McDonald's® Hispanic Education Initiative"
• Integrated Marketing Communications: RL Public Relations & Conill for their work with Toyota on "Somos Muchos Latinos. Somos Muchos Toyota"
• Non-Profit Media Event: RL Public Relations for "Getty Museum Aztec Exhibition"
• Corporate Media Event: The Jeffrey Group & Fox Hispanic Media for its "Latino Entertainment. American Attitude" campaign
• Non-Profit: Public Education: Torres Marquez Communications for One Arizona for "Building Latino Political Power in Arizona"
• Healthcare: "LIVESTRONG Hispanic/Latino Outreach" by LIVESTRONG & Edelman
• Fashion & Beauty: Edelman Multicultural for "Suave Professionals: Desfilando Contigo"
• Digital Public Relations:  Reyes Entertainment for "The Longoria Affair"

The evening was hosted by KNBC anchor Mekahlo Medina and made possible by sponsors RL Public Relations + Marketing; Sportivo; Wells Fargo; Goya Foods; Walt Disney Co.; Southern California Edison; Ketchum; VPE Public Relations; Edelman; Axis Agency; Union Bank; Bank of the West; Staples; Southern California Gas Co.; KNBC; and HPRA's official newswire distribution partner PR Newswire.

About Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)

HPRA was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization to establish a network of Hispanics employed in the public relations profession. With more than 300 members (LA and NY), HPRA represents public relations, marketing and advertising professionals from agencies, government, non-profit and corporate companies. HPRA is dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic professionals and provides educational seminars and programs throughout the year. The organization has awarded more than $233,000 in scholarships to Hispanic students pursuing a career in communications. For more information please visit www.hpra-usa.org.

SOURCE Hispanic Public Relations Association