The Hispanic Heritage Awards is an annual national honors presented by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation that celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of Latino individuals. The awards spotlight achievements in fields such as creativity, education, business, science, leadership, and community service. The event is known for combining award presentations with vibrant cultural performances, showcasing the richness and diversity of the Latino experience in the United States.
History The Hispanic Heritage Awards was established in 1988 by the White House in conjunction with the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. It was created to establish a lasting program to honor Latino Americans who have contributed to society and to inspire future generations through positive representation and recognition.
Initially held as a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C., the Hispanic Heritage Awards has evolved into a major televised event that is broadcast nationally on PBS and supported by over 40 Latino-serving national institutions. The awards show incorporates dynamic musical and artistic performances that showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Latino culture.
The awards are a celebration of the Latino community within the United States, amplifying Latino stories and perspectives while showcasing the richness and versatility of Latino heritage.
Award Categories Source: Arts: Celebrates achievements in various artistic disciplines. Sports: Honors athletes for their accomplishments and contributions. Vision: Recognizes individuals who have demonstrated innovation and forward-thinking in their fields. Fashion: Acknowledges designers and other fashion professionals. Entrepreneurship: Recognizes individuals who have created successful businesses and contributed to the economy. Posthumous Honor: A special award given to individuals who have made significant contributions but are no longer with us.
Past Awards +HHA EditionYearAwardeeCategory38th2025Rosie PerezLeadership38th2025Gloria TreviLegend38th2025Rauw AlejandroVision38th2025Felix ContrerasJournalism38th2025Julissa PradoEntrepreneurship38th2025Cheech MarinArts37th2024Carmelo AnthonySports37th2024Julio TorresVision37th2024Los Ángeles AzulesArts37th2024Roberto ClementeCelebrating the Legacy37th2024Rea Ann SilvaEntrepreneurship37th2024Carolina HerreraFashion36th2023Café TacubaArts36th2023Cesar CondeMedia36th2023Omar ApolloInspira36th2023Siete Family FoodsEntrepreneurship36th2023WisinVision35th2022Daddy YankeeLegend35th2022Alejandro VelezEntrepreneurship35th2022Nikhil AroraEntrepreneurship35th2022Victoria AlonsoVision35th2022Ariana DeBoseInspira35th2022Olga E. CustodioSTEM Award35th2022Los LobosArts34th2021Carlos SantanaLegend34th2021Ivy QueenVision34th2021Ron RiveraSports34th2021Kali UchisInspira 34th2021Clara O'FarrellSTEM34th2021Christina HernándezSTEM34th2021Diana TrujilloSTEM33rd2020Bad BunnyVision33rd2020Linda RonstadtLegend 33rd2020Sebastián YatraInspira 33rd2020Selena GomezArts33rd2020Jessica AlbaBusiness33rd2020Farm WorkersHeroes33rd2020John LewisAlly32nd2019ResidenteVision32nd2019Eugenio DerbezFilm32nd2019Alejandro FernándezMusic32nd2019Canelo ÁlvarezSports32nd2019Sylvia AcevedoLeadership32nd2019Alejandra Y. CastilloLeadership32nd2019Virginia KaseLeadership32nd2019Mónica RamírezLeadership31st2018Daniel LubetzkyEntrepreneurship31st2018Sister Norma PimentelCommunity Service31st2018Richard "Crazy Legs" ColónCulture31st2018Karol GInspira 31st2018Michaela Jaé RodriguezTrailblazer31st2018Ingrid HoffmannCulinary Arts31st2018Jesse & JoyVision30th2017Gael García BernalVision30th2017Rudy BeserraLeadership30th2017The Latin Recording AcademyArts30th2017Alba ColónSTEM30th2017Luis FonsiTrailblazer30th2017DREAMersInspira 29th2016Massy AriasWellness29th2016J BalvinVision29th2016Junot DíazLiterature29th2016Fania All-StarsArts29th2016George HerreraBusiness29th2016Tony JimenezTechnology29th2016Angélica MaríaLegend29th2016Prince RoyceInspira 29th2016Justice Sonia SotomayorLeadership29th2016Diana NatalicioSTEM28th2015White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for HispanicsEducation 28th2015Robert RodriguezVision28th2015Dr. Vladimir AlvaradoSTEM28th2015Arturo SandovalMaster of Arts28th2015Maria GomezHealthcare28th2015Pedro MartinezSports28th2015Ana GabrielLegend28th2015Becky GInspira 27th2014Carl Hayden High School Robotics TeamEducation 27th2014Zoe SaldañaVision27th2014Pepe AguilarMaster of Arts27th2014Carlos VivesLegend27th2014Henry R. Muñoz IIILeadership27th2014Rep. Rubén HinojosaSTEM27th2014Bernie WilliamsSports26th2013Alberto M. CarvalhoEducation26th2013Eva LongoriaCommunity Service26th2013LuceroVision26th2013José AndrésDesign26th2013Juan Pablo MontoyaSports26th2013Los Tigres del NorteLegend26th2013María Teresa KumarLeadership26th2013National Math and Science InitiativeSTEM26th2013Diego LunaInspira 25th2011Hugo SánchezSports25th2011Dr. Elizabeth Molina MorganEducation25th2011Dr. Juan Andrade JrLeadership25th2011Rubén BladesArts25th2011JuanesVision25th2011William LevyInspira 25th2011Jorge VergaraBusiness25th2011Roberto "Chespirito" Gómez BolañosLegend24th2010Juan Luis GuerraArts24th2010Monika MantillaBusiness24th2010Hon. Luis GutiérrezLeadership24th2010Mario Kreutzberger "Don Francisco"Legend24th2010Jaime EscalanteMath and Science 24th2010Cuauhtémoc BlancoSports24th2010Alejandro SanzVision24th2010America FerreraInspira 23rd2009Olga TañonArts23rd2009Dora the ExplorerEducation23rd2009ManáGreen23rd2009Romero BrittoHumanitarian23rd2009Sen. Robert MenendezLeadership23rd2009Richard A. TapiaMath and Science 23rd2009Oscar de la HoyaSports21st2007Dr. Inés CifuentesMath and Science 21st2007Ensemble Cast of Love in the Time of CholeraArts21st2007Hon. Xavier BecerraEducation21st2007Hon. Ileana Ros-LehtinenEducation 21st2007Tony PerézSports21st2007Rosario DawsonVision20th2006Jim JohnsonVision20th2006Antonio BanderasArts20th2006Dr. Juliet Villarreal GarcíaEducation20th2006Lt. Col. Consuelo KickbuschLeadership20th2006José FelicianoLifetime Achievement20th2006Juan MarichalSports19th2005Maestro James Brooks-BruzzeseArts19th2005Dr. Jane L. DelgadoEducation19th2005Hon. Carlos M. GutierrezLeadership19th2005Tab RamosSports19th2005Soledad O'BrienVision18th2004John LeguizamoArts18th2004Sandra BenitezLiterature18th2004Dr. Gloria G. RodriguezEducation18th2004Juan D. GonzálezLeadership18th2004Andrés CantorSports18th2004Narcisco RodriguezVision17th2003Sonia ManzanoEducation17th2003Linda Chávez-ThompsonLeadership17th2003Denise ChávezLiterature 17th2003Omar MinayaSports17th2003Anne Marie TallmanVision16th2002Father Virgilio F. ElizondoEducation 16th2002Lisa QuirozLeadership16th2002Ricky MartinArts16th2002Julia AlvarezLiterature 16th2002Derek ParraSports15th2001Gregory NavaArts15th2001Judith BacaEducation15th2001Cristina SaraleguiLeadership15th2001Liz BalmasedaLiterature15th2001Mary Joe FernandezSports14th2000Anthony QuinnArts14th2000Honorable Cruz ReynosoEducation14th2000Oscar HijuelosLiterature14th2000Dolores HuertaLeadership14th2000Sammy SosaSports13th1999Placido DomingoArts13th1999Tina RamirezEducation13th1999Antonia HernadezLeadership13th1999Anthony MunozSports13th1999Gary SotoLiterature12th1998Celia CruzLifetime Achievement12th1998Martin SheenArts12th1998Abraham ChavezEducation12th1998Antonia Coello NovelloLeadership12th1998Luis J. RodríguezLiterature12th1998Rebecca LoboSports11th1997Carmen ZapataLifetime Achievement11th1997Andy GarciaArts11th1997Amelia V. BetanzosEducation11th1997Hon. Bill RichardsonLeadership11th1997Nicholasa MohrLiterature 11th1997Nancy LopezSports10th1996Carmen Delgado-VotawEducation10th1996Oscar De La RentaLifetime Achievement10th1996Hon. Federico F. PeñaLeadership10th1996Isabel AllendeLiterature10th1996Jimmy SmitsPerforming Arts10th1996Bobby BonillaSports9th1995Amb. Minerva BernardinoEducation9th1995Raul JuliaLifetime Achievement9th1995José Antonio BurciagaLiterature9th1995Israel "Cachao" LopezPerforming Arts9th1995Dr. Ellen OchoaLeadership8th1994Dr. Hilda PereraLiterature 8th1994Tito PuentePerforming Arts8th1994Dr. Manuel BerriozábalEducation8th1994Baldemar VelasquezLeadership8th1994Tommy NúñezSports7th1993Sister Isolina FerreEducation7th1993Raúl YzaguirreLeadership7th1993Luis SanteiroLiterature7th1993Gloria EstefanPerforming Arts7th1993Emilio EstefanPerforming Arts7th1993Juan "Chi Chi" RodríguezSports6th1992Dr. Antonia PantojaLeadership6th1992José Luís "Chegui" TorresSports6th1992Hon. Henry G. CisnerosEducation6th1992Luis ValdezLiterature6th1992Edward James OlmosPerforming Arts5th1991Hon. Margarita EsquirozLeadership5th1991Eduardo MataPerforming Arts5th1991Dr. Joseph A. FernandezEducation4th1990Dr. Pedro José Greer, Jr.Leadership4th1990Rita MorenoPerforming Arts4th1990Tom TellezSports3rd1989Dr. Hector Perez GarciaLeadership3rd1989Fernando BujonesPerforming Arts3rd1989Jimmy Santiago BacaLiterature2nd1988Jaime EscalanteEducation2nd1988Dr. Nicolas KanellosLiterature2nd1988Orlando Agudelo-BoteroVisual Arts1st1987Archbishop Patrick FloresLeadership1st1987Ernest Z. RoblesEducation1st1987Jesse TreviñoVisual Arts
References