Special Needs Educator Norma Hernandez Named 2019 Citizen of the Year at Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Banquet

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019

Eagle Pass Special Needs Educator Norma Hernandez was named the 2019 Citizen of the Year Award Recipient at the 92nd Annual Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, announced William W. Davis, Chamber President.

Norma Hernandez is the founder of a non-profit organization called Angels from Heaven Club that promotes special education children needs in the community of Eagle Pass, Texas. Hernandez through Angels from Heaven Club sponsors events and activities for special needs children that maximizes their imagination, creativity, and development as productive citizens of the community.

Hernandez together with her son, Mark Anthony Hernandez, co-founded an annual event named Step by Step for Special Needs in 2007 in Eagle Pass to promote the awareness and acceptance of people of all ages with special needs and this year’s annual event will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 9 A.M. at the Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center which includes a Walkathon.  The Step by Step for Special Needs Walkathon is open to the public for participation and all proceeds raised go for community activities for special needs people.

Hernandez and her volunteers from Angels from Heaven Club have hosted community events for special needs people that include a softball league, a fashion show, cheerleading classes, host annual Christmas and Valentine’s Day celebrations, a community picnic, coordinate and host annual trips to Disney World, Schlitterbahn, South Padre Island, and co-hosted with the Maverick County Junior Livestock Show the Helping Hands Project allowing special needs children raise and show a livestock animal project together with either a 4-H or FFA member in the recently held 2019 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show in January.

In addition, Norma Hernandez is a community spiritual advocate by volunteering or participating in local community spiritual groups or activities such as the Rancho Santa Maria Rosary Group, teaches catechism for children with special needs at Our Lady of Refuge Church, serves as a Communion Minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and is an active member of the local ACTS group, which spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the community.

Hernandez was presented the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce 2019 Citizen of the Year Award for her extraordinary leadership, unselfish volunteerism, and genuine commitment to improving the lives of special needs people in the community and raising awareness and acceptance of special needs people.   Hernandez received a standing ovation from the over 250 people in attendance at the 92nd Annual Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

Also nominated for 2019 Citizen of the Year Award was retired educator and community advocate Dora E. Libson, who has previously been awarded the Citizen of the Year Award.