CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ CELEBRATES VALLEY NATIVES RECEIVING PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM
Dr. Julieta García and Raúl Yzaguirre will receive the Nation’s highest honor for their achievements in education and civil rights.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez celebrated two Rio Grande Valley trailblazers being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden during a ceremony at the White House.
"I join my fellow South Texans in celebrating two esteemed members of our community receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor, for their invaluable contributions to the fields of education and civil rights," stated Congressman Gonzalez. "I congratulate Dr. García for her work in academia and Mr. Yzaguirre for his work to advance civil rights. Both individuals have propelled our community and nation forward toward a more just and society. I know they will inspire generations of South Texans to give back to their community and never be afraid to reach their full potential."
Dr. Julieta García is the former president of The University of Texas at Brownsville (now part of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), where she was named one of Time magazine's best college presidents. Dr. García was the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president and dedicated her career to serving students from the Southwest Border region.
Raúl Yzaguirre is a civil rights advocate who served as CEO and president of National Council of La Raza (now UNIDOS US) for 30 years. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President Barack Obama.
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