Highland Heights, KY – September 18, 2025 — The LULAC Ohio Educational Foundation (LOEF) commemorated two decades of educational impact during its 20th Annual Scholarship Celebration Gala, held at the Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Student Center. The evening brought together community leaders, educators, students, and supporters to honor the legacy and future of Latino empowerment through education.
LOEF President Laura Moese led the evening’s program, expressing heartfelt gratitude to NKU for hosting the gala for more than half of its twenty-year history. In her remarks, Moese traced LOEF’s roots from the founding of the national LULAC organization in 1923, to the establishment of LULAC Cincinnati in 2007, and finally to LOEF’s creation in 2022—formed to better serve the educational mission of the Cincinnati council.
The gala honored the foundational members of LULAC Cincinnati and recognized the sponsors whose unwavering support has fueled LOEF’s mission. Moese thanked longtime partners such as Procter & Gamble, the Center for Closing the Health Gap, Mr. & Mrs John Pepper and numerous private businesses and families who have contributed to the success of Latino students across the region.
While dinner was being served, guests were moved by heartfelt testimonials from scholarship recipients, sharing how LOEF’s support helped them overcome barriers and pursue their academic dreams. The evening was further enriched by a musical performance from Karen, “La Dama del Pueblo,” who captivated the audience with traditional Mexican ballads. Alicia Pagan and her husband Ray also took the stage to present a new initiative: a proposed Day of Volunteerism in honor of civil rights icons Dolores Huerta and César Chávez. They performed a song once sung by Huerta and Chávez during their advocacy for farmworkers’ rights—a poetic tribute to equality, with lyrics reminding us that “the sun gives its warmth to all equally.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Adriana Altuve, Vice President at Procter & Gamble, delivered a powerful and deeply personal address. She shared her journey of escaping political hardship in Cuba, pursuing her education in Mexico, and ultimately rising to executive leadership at P&G. Her story of resilience, determination, and purpose resonated with the audience, offering valuable lessons on perseverance, identity, and the importance of mentorship in overcoming adversity.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Rosa Maria Moreno (RMM) Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed upon Moreno for her 40-year dedication to education and her pivotal role in selecting LOEF scholarship recipients over the past two decades. Her leadership helped LOEF become the top-performing LULAC council nationwide in scholarship grants over the last four years. The RMM award was also presented to Leo Calderon and Irene Encarnacion, honoring their four decades of service as educators and their impactful work with the Esperanza Latino Center.
Jonaiker Villalobos, pitcher for the Florence Y’Alls, received the Community Leader Award for his efforts in launching and sustaining the Latin Heritage Night, now a celebrated tradition for the past three years.
In a powerful conclusion to the evening, LOEF awarded 42 scholarships to students from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, reinforcing its commitment to helping Latino youth achieve their college dreams and build brighter futures.
The gala served not only as a celebration of past achievements but as a reaffirmation of LOEF’s enduring mission: to uplift the next generation of Latino leaders through education, opportunity, and community support.