A renowned motivational speaker will address residents for the
first time in San Benito County during two engagements
Saturday.
Hollister – A renowned motivational speaker will address residents for the first time in San Benito County during two engagements Saturday.
Consuelo Castillo Kickbush, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., will first speak to students at San Benito High School Saturday morning for the students-only conference and address participants at the 15th Annual LULAC Hispanic Women in Action reception at Ridgemark Country Club later Saturday evening.
“I don’t know what she’ll be talking about, but she’s a very motivational speaker. I’m sure whatever she says will be very moving,” said Mickie Luna, former president of the San Benito chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizen.
Kickbush never tells groups which subjects she will address in her motivational speeches beforehand, Luna said.
Kickbush has never spoken in San Benito County before, but has given talks elsewhere on the importance of education and of not letting one’s economic background dictate his or her future. After growing up in a large, financially-challenged family, Kickbush went on to become the highest-ranking Latino woman in the U.S. Army.
Her speaking engagements at the conference and reception on Saturday are quite a coup for the local chapter of LULAC, according to Luna. The conference was previously set for April, but was rescheduled to coincide with Kickbush’s arrival in San Benito County.
“We’re very lucky to have her,” Luna added.
The annual reception, now in its 15th year in San Benito county, will feature not only Kickbush, but also Laura Munoz-Vasquez, a local teacher who will be given the honor of LULAC’s San Benito County Woman of the Year. In addition, the reception will serve as a fund-raiser for LULAC’s scholarship fund. All proceeds from the reception will be sent to LULAC’s Washington, D.C. office, where they will be matched by 60 percent and awarded to a San Benito County student as scholarship money at the end of the year.
Jessica Quandt is a staff writer for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at [email protected].
