MACE announces people of the year

A Hollister police officer and community organizer are being honored as winners of man and woman of the year by the Mexican American Committee on Education.
The group announced the winners, who will be honored at the 45th annual Cinco de Mayor Scholarship Dinner & Dance at Elks Lodge on May 2.
The winners are organizer Maria Lezama and police officer Carlos Rodriguez.
Look back for more. Below is the full press release:
The Mexican-American Committee on Education (MACE) of San Benito County wishes to invite the community to the 45th annual Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Dinner & Dance. The event is scheduled on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Elks Lodge located at 351 Astro Drive in Hollister, California. 
MACE, through proceeds from the annual Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Banquet, is able to award scholarships to graduating high school seniors from San Benito County.  MACE attributes its success to community members and corporate sponsors who support the annual scholarship banquet. Since its formation in 1970, MACE has raised over $400,000 and granted scholarships to over 500 students. Many scholarship recipients are very successful today in their careers and education – attending several of colleges and universities throughout the United States. 
This year, MACE will be honoring the 2015 Man and Woman of the Year awards to two dynamic individuals that have contributed to the success of our community.
Officer Carlos Rodriguez of the City of Hollister Police Department is beign honored as the 2015 Mace Man of the Year.  In 2014, Officer Rodrigrez participate as a role model speaker at the annual Latino Youth Leadership Conference, which is sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizens of San Benito County.  The goal of the conference is to connect students with local community professionals in order to provide them the opportunity to learn about different careers options. In 2014, Officer Rodrigrez received the Inter-service Recognition Award from the California emergency Medical Services Authority, which honors special accomplishments and / or heroic acts.
Maria Lezama is beign honored as the 2015 MACE Woman of the Year. Throughout most of her life Maria Lezama has experienced the struggles that people and children endured as a result of poverty and neglect.  For this reason, Maria organize s several community events that celebrate people and children. Over the past decade she has organized the annual Dia del Niño (Day of the Child), a Mothers Day celebration,  and holiday events in her Hollister neighborhood. 
The Banquet will include a program, dinner, and entertainment.  The event will consist of a wonderful traditional Mexican dinner which will be accompanied by the sounds of the one of the best Djs in San Benito County, Djmiguel. The dance portion of the event is schedule to end at midnight. 
Tickets for the Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Banquet are $45 per person; table reservations of 8 people are encouraged and still available.  No tickets will be sold at the door.  We invite everyone to come out and support our scholarship fundraiser. This event will sell out so please get your tickets now. For more information, please contact Veronica Lezama, MACE President at 831-245-6371, Mickie Luna, Treasurer at 831-673-2009, or George Munoz, Vice President at 831-801-4598.