SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Bea González will be the first ever inductee into the Hall of Latino Celebrities in Central New York. The ceremony will take place this weekend at the 4th annual Puerto Rican Festival of Syracuse. She is being recognized for her tremendous efforts at Syracuse University and her monumental impact in the community.
Receiving so much recognition can be a bit uncomfortable for her at times, “…but at the same time it’s really an honor to be recognized by my own community for a lifetime worth of work,” she said.
González has always been a voice for the voiceless and the bridge between Syracuse University and the community. It’s hard for her to name any one memory as her fondest, but she says her proudest moments have been establishing the initiatives that will last long after her like the InclusiveU program for disabled students and the Bea González summer scholars program, which is now in its third year.
“One of my key goals in everything I did was to build leadership in our community,” González said.
Jesús Rolón is one of the community leaders that grew from González’s leadership. Now, the head organizer of the Puerto Rican Festival where González will be honored. Rolón admired González’s passion for education, politics and simply helping others.
As a longtime Syracuse native and fellow Puerto Rican, González meant a lot to the Puerto Rican population in the city.
“We like to honor, we like to highlight great leaders in our community. Especially the Latino leaders,” Rolón said.
After 36 years with Syracuse University and in the middle of retirement, González still has one foot in the field. “I see the impact of the work that I’ve done and I want to continue to do it,” she says when asked what still motivates her even after retirement.
This Saturday, not just González but also her impact will be honored and remembered for generations to come.
