Glen Rock, NJ, February 3, 2010 – Ingrid Noriega, the 1st Place winner of Power to Learn’s 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest, was recognized at the Academy of Our Lady by Cablevision representatives and a host of elected officials, including Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, Paterson Mayor Jose Torres and Glen Rock Mayor John Van Keuren. At the awards ceremony, the 7th grader from Paterson, NJ, read her winning essay and was awarded a laptop computer by representatives from Cablevision and Olympusat, Inc., provider of such Spanish language channels as Latele Novela, ¡Sorpresa!, Momentum, TV Colombia, TV Chile and La Familia, all available on iO TV® as part of the iO en español programming package.

“I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ingrid read her essay about ‘Being a Latino at Heart’ and congratulate her on winning first prize,” said Bergen County Executive McNerney. “I’d also like to recognize Cablevision for providing this opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Hispanic Americans, as well as the many contributions they have made to this community and to our nation.”

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First Place Winner - Ingrid Noriega >>

Assemblywoman Pou also noted, “The Latino community has had a profound effect on this nation and it’s through opportunities such as this that students can explore the proud history and cultural traditions of Latinos everywhere.”

Paterson Mayor Torres observed, “Hispanic Americans serve our nation every day. Whether it’s as teachers in our classrooms, lawyers in our courtrooms, or soldiers on the battlefield, they have made important contributions to every facet of American life.”

Glen Rock Mayor Van Keuren concurred, noting, “We need to help students cherish and preserve the ethnic diversity that nourishes and strengthens our nation. Programs such as this from Cablevision enable students to embrace the future through a better understanding of their Latino heritage.”