Man and woman of the year
One was born in Hollister, the other in Corona. One has been a
father, business owner and school board member, the other a teacher
for the past 30 years. But Aurelio Zuniga and Rachel Flores-Zepeda
do have two things in common: steadfast dedication to education in
San Benito County and a place of honor at this year’s
Mexican-American Committee on Education (MACE) Scholarship Banquet,
as Man and Woman of the Year.
Man and woman of the year
One was born in Hollister, the other in Corona. One has been a father, business owner and school board member, the other a teacher for the past 30 years.
But Aurelio Zuniga and Rachel Flores-Zepeda do have two things in common: steadfast dedication to education in San Benito County and a place of honor at this year’s Mexican-American Committee on Education (MACE) Scholarship Banquet, as Man and Woman of the Year.
Aurelio Zuniga was born and raised in Hollister. He attended Fremont School, then Hollister High School, and San Benito Junior College (which later became Gavilan College). After college he lived and worked briefly in Palo Alto before returning to Hollister to own and operate the Progresso Tamale Parlor.
During his time as a business owner in San Benito County, he served as a San Benito High School trustee for nine years, part of that time as president. He also donated time and money to educational clubs and organizations including MACE, the League of United Latin-American Citizens (LULAC) and the YMCA. His encouragement of and tireless commitment to educational excellence in San Benito County earned him the 2006 Man of the Year award.
A native of Corona, California, Flores-Zepeda began as a teacher for San Benito High School 30 years ago. She has since touched the lives of more than 5,000 students. She is an outstanding example of a “Respectful, responsible, civil, tolerant, caring, courteous, and courageous” teacher, and has twice been awarded a Baler Code Award by SBHS Students and a Teacher of the Year Award from San Benito County LULAC.
Additionally, Flores has worked extensively as a volunteer in the youth community. She served as the MEChA adviser for several years, has served the LULAC-sponsored Young Reader’s Program, and currently acts as adviser and mentor for San Benito High School’s “Club Ed,” a group of students interested in teaching as a career. For her tireless encouragement of the teachers of tomorrow, she has been named the 2006 MACE Woman of the Year.
Both Flores and Zuniga will be honored at the 36th annual MACE Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Banquet, to be held on Saturday, May 6.
For more information about the event, call 831-637-1342.
