Karla Gomez has been named “Napa Valley College Student of the Year” by the Napa Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Mechanics Bank Community Awards program. The program recognizes local community leaders, individuals and businesses for their outstanding leadership, contributions and achievements toward the betterment of the communities throughout the Napa Valley. She will be honored at a luncheon May 24 at the Marriott Hotel.
Karla, according to recognition in the Napa Valley Register, started learning about low Latino graduation rates and recognizing other obstacles to their success and she said she then began to see herself as part of a larger community. “She was lucky – she secured legal residency status when she was 15 – but she also knew many other Latino students whose immigration status meant they could not get the financial aid necessary to attend college. Karla became a youth organizer for the Reform Immigration for America campaign, which advocates for comprehensive changes including a clear path to citizenship for those already here. Today Karla works as a youth coach for the LAYLA program. And she was one of 22 Latina youth selected for what she calls “life changing” leadership training at the National Hispana Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C.,” the article said.
She has been active on campus and was involved in the Dreamers Conference being held May 21.
A complete list of students nominated was not available at deadline. David Haymond, a student in the Machine Tool Technology program, was nominated posthumously.
Ian MacNeil, M.B.A., C.H.E., of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, was nominated in the Outstanding Hospitality Tourism category.
Omar Salem, a graduate of the Napa Valley College Police Academy, was honored as “Outstanding Public Safety Person of the Year.” A police officer for the City of Napa, Salem was honored for his work mentoring youth in preventing youth violence and with the DARE anti-drug program. The nomination praised “his positive attitude, willingness to assist people in need, generosity and commitment to community.”