Columbia Hosts Dominican Republic
Consulate Award Ceremony

Feb. 26, 2007

In celebration of Dominican Heritage Month, Columbia University hosted an awards ceremony Feb. 6 for the Dominican Republic Consulate and its Consul General Eduardo Selman. This star-studded event celebrated 10 distinguished Dominicans as the first recipients of the Orden al Mérito Ciudadano (Order of Meritorious Citizen). The Dominican government established the award to honor individuals of Dominican origin who have made a difference abroad.

 

At the inaugural ceremony, awards were given to fashion designer Oscar de La Renta, singer Milly Quezada, musical legend Tilsia Caridad Brenes, composer Rafael Bullumba Landestoy, Drs. Nasry Michelén and Rafael Lantigua, baseball players Alex Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez, New York City Immigration Commissioner Guillermo Linares and community trailblazer Ofelia Rodriguez. A posthumous recognition was made in honor of the late Dominican composer Manuel Sanchez Acosta. The Orden al Mérito Ciudadano is the highest award given by the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in New York. (1:16)