Awarding Excellence
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 be from the San Antonio or South Texas area who is distinguished in the field of journalism who has contributed to improving and enlightening the community at large, effected change for the betterment of the Hispanic community, has served as a “bridge of understanding” between all communities and who has always maintained the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
2024 | ||
2023 | Diane R. Fuentes | |
2022 | Ramón Hernández | |
2021 | Ciro Villarreal | |
2019 | Antonio Gullen | KWEX-TV |
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 | Jessie Degollado | KSAT-TV |
2011 | Mexican Journalists | Multiple 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 recognizes an exemplary community servant, an individual or group that has made significant contributions in San Antonio or beyond in a wide range of fields, including the media, education, government, business, arts and culture, politics, science and technology or philanthropy. Community Service Award recipients are nominated and voted on by active, dues-paying members of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists.
2023 | Uvalde Leader-News staff | Worked diligently and sensitively to document the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting, telling the stories of the victims, their families and the pursuit of accountability. |
2022 | San Antonio Food Bank | San Antonio nonprofit that served families tremendously during the coronavirus pandemic |
2021 | Shea Serrano | San Antonio-native and New York Times best-selling author who advocates for more Latinos in the book publishing industry and beyond |
2019 | Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. | Selected for their role in helping reunite Central American migrant parents with their children, who had been separated from them at the U.S.-Mexico border under Trump administration policy. |
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 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 an award for 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. Recipients make significant financial or social contributions that influence U.S. Latinos. Recipients each have “un corazón de oro,” referring to the Mexican or Spanish-language phrase, someone with a heart of gold.
2023 | John Leguizamo | Actor |
2022 | Flaco Jimenez | Musician |
2019 | Maria Hinojosa | Reporter for NPR’s Latino USA |
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 |