Community News

NHHS student wins Hispanic Heritage Month scholarship (2)

Optimum’s Sagar Bhika, NHHS teacher Julie Holbert, state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, Assistant Principal Michelle Miller and schools Superintendent Mark Garrett pose with Grand Prize Winner Citlally Diaz Mar.

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 9, 2023

Optimum, together with co-sponsor TelevisaUnivision, celebrated the 2023 winners of its annual Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest, which included North Henderson High School student Citlally Diaz Mar.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, Optimum invited students across the company’s 21-state footprint to share in 500 words or less a person, group of people or cultural experience (TV show, movie, music, app, event) that has helped them connect to Hispanic culture and what it means to them.

The other winners of grand prize scholarships of $3,000 besides Citlally were from Paterson, New Jersey; the Bronx; and College Station, Texas.


“This year’s long-running Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest saw the largest number of student submissions since the contest was first launched over 10 years ago,” said Lisa Gonzalez Anselmo, Chief Diversity Officer at Optimum. “We are thrilled to see such great excitement around the contest and the students’ passion to spotlighting the contributions that the Hispanic American community makes to our everyday lives. We look forward to celebrating with the winners during our recognition events in the coming weeks and to continue supporting and uplifting all the communities we serve.”