On Thursday, August 29th at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC), over 150 people attended a special award ceremony held by Hunter College’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies honoring 16 Puerto Ricans that have made a difference in the Chicago community. The awards were presented by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies’ Director, Edwin Meléndez. The lives of Chicago Puerto Ricans involved in the arts, education, communications, public service and other sectors were highlighted. These Puerto Rican pioneers included Dr. Aida Giachello, Ray Rubio, Hilda Frontany, Ada López, Roberto “Bob” Medina and Dr. Jose E. López, among others. The night showcased the enormous amount of dedication of many who worked diligently and tirelessly to transform the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and the United States. The evening included ethnic foods which were authentically created by various ethnic groups in Chicago including Chicago-style pizza, Italian Beef, Polish Sausage, Chinese Fried Rice, and the Puerto Rican Jibarito sandwich. A special thanks to Representative Cynthia Soto and Borinquen Restaurant for their generous donations.