"CEMI" Award

Discover what a Cemi award is, how the award is made, and who has received one in the past.

What is a “CEMI” Award?

The “CEMI” Award is the highest honor presented by the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey to an individual for their outstanding achievements and upholding fundamental Puerto Rican values. Nominees for this award are carefully chosen and screened by PRC’s governing body to assure that the candidates’ core social and moral believes are aligned with the organizational mission.

Per Taino Indian tradition, “CEMI” is a god, spirit or ancestor. It is also the name given to the religious symbol that is the physical representation of a god. The most common shape for “CEMI” in Puerto Rico is a form with three "points" carved in stone or wood. These idols have carved representations of both humans and animals.

Renowned Stone Sculptor Andres Melendez from Comerío, Puerto Rico, works on the design and sculpting of a one-of-a-kind “CEMI” Award, to be presented at the upcoming PRC Convention scheduled for September 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. The name of this year’s “CEMI” Award recipient will be announce on a future date.
Stay tuned…!
The Making of the CEMI Award
Past CEMI Award Recipients
2017
William Narvaez,
NJ PRC CHAIR PERSON
1987
Juan R. Vargas, FOUNDER
Jose E. Delgado, COMMUNITY
Iris Martinez-Arroyo, BOARD MEMBER
Angel Dominguez, BOARD MEMBER
Hector E. Guzman, STAFF MEMBER   
1986
Dr. Jose Rosario, FOUNDER
Dr. Gloria Bunilla-Santiago, COMMUNITY
Carmen Vega Morales, BOARD MEMBER
Norma L. Perez, STAFF MEMBER
1985
Rafael Valentin, COMMUNITY
Lydia Trinidad, BOARD MEMBER
Norma L. Perez, STAFF MEMBER
1984
John T. Mendez, COMMUNITY
Lydia J. Valencia, BOARD MEMBER
Staff 1984, STAFF MEMBER
1983
Miguel A. Rivera , COMMUNITY
Guy Knowles, BOARD MEMBER
Gil Rivera, STAFF PERSON
1982
Jose L. Maldonado, COMMUNITY
Annette Quijano, BOARD MEMBER
Dean Agosto, STAFF MEMBER
1981
Maria Magda o’keefe, COMMUNITY
Nina Rios, BOARD MEMBER
Rafael Garcia, STAFF MEMBER
1980
Tony Vega, COMMUNITY
Juan Roadario, COMMUNITY
Hector Machado, BOARD MEMBER
Orlando Castro, STAFF MEMBER
1979
Stantos Torres, COMMUNITY
Lydia Marales, BOARD MEMBER
Margarita Santiago, STAFF MEMBER
1978
Frank Tejeras, COMMUNITY
Jamie Vazquez, BOARD MEMBER
Iliana Okum, STAFF MEMBER
1977
Joseph Rodriguez, COMMUNITY
J. Armando Rodriguez, BOARD MEMBER
Estela McDonnell, STAFF MEMBER
1976
Martin Oliveras, COMMUNITY
Jose Adames, BOARD MEMBER
Carmen Hyde, STAFF MEMBER
John Gotsch, STAFF MEMBER