Sierra Colon, a political science major from Wethersfield, CT, and president of the Organization of Latin American Students at Eastern Connecticut State University; Carlos Hernandez, a member of the maintenance staff at Eastern; and Gloria Bent, past president of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, have been named recipients of Eastern’s 2017 Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Award.

The awards, presented on April 19 in the Student Center Theatre, recognize individuals who best exemplify the teachings of Chavez, the late labor leader and human rights activist who advocated for fairness, equity and justice for farm workers. The awards also recognize individuals who have performed extraordinary service in support of the Latin-American community by either developing or contributing to programs or activities that focus on positive development of minority youth and/or foster minority educational opportunities and advancement.

“I think Cesar Chavez would look at our three award recipients and see three people who focus their time on

meeting the needs of others,” said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. “Sierra Colon, Carlos Hernandez and Gloria Bent have demonstrated exemplary leadership in service to the Latin American community, the Eastern campus and the community-at-large. They remind us of our own responsibility to serve others, so that everyone may share in the American Dream.”

In addition to serving as president of OLAS, Colon ’17 has been a resident assistant and has also served as a student orientation counselor, peer mentor and tutor for elementary students in Willimantic. This past summer, she was awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship from the U.S. State Department, which allowed her to complete a two-month internship in Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked on agriculture reform and social justice issues. Colon has also secured an internship with the Department of Environmental and Energy Projection. She has advocated for affordable tuition at meetings hosted by state representatives. Graduating with honors, Colon plans to attend graduate school, focusing on higher education and policy reform.

Hernandez came to Eastern 31 years ago, while working part time at the post office. Over the years, he has supervised numerous students while serving as a mover, carpenter, painter and landscaper.

In Willimantic, Hernandez has visited halfway homes operated by Windham Area Interfaith Ministry) to donate clothes and talk with people transitioning from prison. He and his wife have served as foster parents for neglected children, and have adopted and raised five children.

Gloria Bent is a member of the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Northeastern Connecticut, and the immediate past president of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut. She has been active in the league for 11 years, encouraging citizen participation in all levels of government through education and advocacy.

A resident of Mansfield for more than 40 years, Bent has served for four years on Mansfield Advocates for Children and two years on Mansfield’s Advisory Committee on the Needs of Persons with Disabilities. She earned a diploma in nursing from Saint Joseph Infirmary School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA, and a bachelor of arts from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, where she majored in religious studies and minored in women’s studies.