Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism
Launched in 2001, this award is named after San Antonio broadcast pioneer, community leader and local historian, Henry Guerra. Potential candidates for this award must meet the following Criteria:
- An individual from the San Antonio or South Texas area who is distinguished in the field of journalism.
- An individual who has contributed to improving and enlightening the community at large.
- An individual who has effected change for the betterment of the Hispanic community.
- An individual who has served as a “bridge of understanding” between all communities.
- An individual who has always maintained the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award Past Recipients
| Year | Award Recipient | Media Outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Elaine Ayala | San Antonio Express-News |
| 2017 | John W. Gonzalez | San Antonio Express-News |
| 2016 | Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez | University of Texas at Austin |
| 2015 | Michael Quintanilla | San Antonio Express-News |
| 2014 | John Quiñones | ABC News |
| 2013 | Monica Navarro | Univision |
| 2012 | Jesse Degollado | KSAT-TV |
| 2011 | Mexican Journalists | Various Media Outlets |
| 2010 | Martha Tijerina | KWEX-TV |
| 2009 | Maria Elena Torralva-Alonso | San Antonio Light |
| 2008 | Elizabeth Ruiz | KTSA 550 AM |
| 2007 | Charles Kilpatrick | San Antonio Express-News |
| 2006 | Lionel Sosa | Bromley Communications |
| 2005 | Emilio Nicolas Sr. | KWEX-TV |
| 2004 | Pedro and Cruz Cortez | Mi Tierra Café |
| 2003 | Veronica Salazar Escobedo | Hearst Corp. |
| 2002 | Tino Duran | La Prensa |
| 2001 | Henry Guerra | WOAI-TV |
Community Service Award
SAAHJ’s Community Service Award is given each year to recognize an exemplary community servant — individual or group — that has made significant contributions to San Antonio and/or South Texas in a wide range of fields, including the media, education, government, business, arts and culture, politics, science and technology or philanthropy. The individual or group can be actively engaged in such work or be retired from it. Community Service Award recipients are nominated and voted on by active, dues-paying members of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. Honorees must be present to win the award.
SAAHJ Community Service Award Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | American Indians of Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions | With the Alamo City celebrating its tricentennial in 2018, this group was in the community spotlight. |
| 2017 | Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) | Headquartered in San Antonio, RAICES is the largest immigration legal services provider in Texas. |
| 2016 | Maria Antonietta Berriozábal | The first Mexican-American woman elected to the San Antonio City Council |
| 2015 | Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) | Formed in 1968 and headquartered in San Antonio, MALDEF is a national non-profit civil rights organization that protects the rights of Latinos in the United States |
| 2014 | Henry Cisneros | Former mayor of San Antonio |
| 2013 | Karen Martinez | |
| 2012 | Father David Garcia | |
| 2011 | Jesus Rangel | |
| 2010 | Rosie Castro | Political activist and the mother of U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro and former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro |
| 2009 | Chicano Walkout Students of 1968 | |
| 2008 | Patricia Diaz Dennis |
Corazón de Oro Award
Launched in 2014, SAAHJ’s Corazón de Oro Award honors an individual in the arts whose work and leadership reflects positively on the U.S. Latino experience and/or who explores Latino perspectives. The Corazón de Oro Award was conceived as a national award given to San Antonians (and potentially non-San Antonians) who have made a national impact on the U.S. Latino community philanthropically, politically, culturally, educationally, or socially. The recipient will have made financial or social contributions that have influenced U.S. Latinos broadly and significantly in their fields. The recipient will have “un corazón de oro,” referring to the Mexican or Spanish-language phrase, literally, someone with a heart of gold.
Corazón de Oro Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Carmen Yulín Cruz | Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 2017 | Jim Acosta | CNN White House Correspondent |
| 2016 | Little Joe Hernandez | Tejano Singer |
| 2015 | Vikki Carr | Pop Singer |
| 2014 | Robert Rodriguez | Filmmaker |