Since 2016, AL DÍA has hosted an annual celebration of America’s Hispanic Heritage. 

While Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the year-round mission of AL DÍA is to showcase and honor Hispanic individuals doing great things, not often discussed in the media. 

In past years, AL DÍA has normally honored 4-5 individuals as honorees of the annual event, classified as “archetypes” — the opposite of stereotypes. 

This year, 10 archetypes will be honored with the 2021 AL DÍA Archetype: Ambassador Manuel Torres Award.

The 30 total nominees are distinguished in the following categories:

• Public service
• Non-profit
• Education
• Corporate
• Entrepreneurship
• Sports
• Performing arts
• Philanthropy 
• Media
• Health

Three nominees have been named in each category. Here are the nominees: 

PUBLIC SERVICE

• Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez
• Chief Federal Court Judge Juan Sánchez 
• President and CEO of Latino Victory Project, Nathalie Rayes

NON-PROFIT

• LCDA CEO Esther Aguilera
• HACR CEO Cid Wilson 
• ALPFA CEO Damián Rivera

EDUCATION

• U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
• President of Thaddeus Stevens College Pedro Rivera
• PA Secretary of Education Noe Ortega

CORPORATE

• Executive Chairman of United Airlines Oscar Muñoz 
• Ford Board Member Kimberly Casiano
• Vice President Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at AARP, Yvette Peña. 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Director of Rockway Equity Partners Maria Contreras-Sweet
• Former Comcast Chief IT & Security Officer & Spirit Airlines Board Member Myrna Soto 
• Pinnacle Chair, CEO & Owner Nina Vaca

SPORTS

• Anaheim Angels Team Owner Arturo Moreno
• President, Chief Executive Officer and Alternate Governor of the Arizona Coyotes Xavier Gutierrez
• American professional soccer player and captain at the Philadelphia Union Alejandro Bedoya

PERFORMING ARTS

• Curtis Institute of Music CEO Roberto Diaz
• Singer Amara La Negra
• Philadelphia Ballet, Artistic Director Angel Corella

PHILANTHROPY

• Knight Foundation President Alberto Ibargüen
• Philadelphia Foundation CEO Pedro Ramos

MEDIA

• Philadelphia Inquirer Executive Editor Gabriel Escobar
• Connecticut Public President/CEO Mark Contreras
• CNN Anchor Ana Cabrera 

HEALTH

• Distinguished University Professor of Epidemiology at School of Public Health and Director of the Drexel Urban Health, Ana Diez Roux 
• Professor of Clinical Emergency at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania Iris Reyes
• Neurosurgeon, author, and Professor and Chair of Neurologic Surgery and runs a basic science research lab at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in Florida Dr. José Hinojosa

The final selection of the 10 recipients of the 2021 AL DÍA Archetype: Ambassador Manuel Torres Award will be finalized by co-chairs of the 2021 AL DÍA Archetypes gala, Judge Nelson Diaz, director at PECO and partner at Dilworth Paxson, LLP; and Peter Longstreth, president of Consular Corps Association.

The final selection of honorees will be announced in the coming week. 

The 2021 AL DÍA Archetype Hispanic Heritage Gala & Awards Ceremony is set for Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 at the Union League of Philadelphia. To reserve your seat at the premier celebration of America's Hispanic Heritage, click here.