HITN MEDIA Honors Five Puerto Rican Icons at Hunter College

HITN MEDIA, the leading Spanish-language public media network in the U.S., continued its Emmy-winning Puerto Rican Heritage series with a ceremony at Hunter College in Manhattan, honoring five influential Puerto Rican figures whose contributions to education, journalism, diplomacy, entertainment and civil rights have helped shape American society. The event, held Friday, November 13, at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro), brought together community leaders, elected officials and members of the Puerto Rican and broader Hispanic communities to recognize this year’s honorees: Rita Moreno, Juan González, Mari Carmen Aponte, Jacobo Morales and Antonia Pantoja, who was honored posthumously.

“Puerto Ricans have helped shape this nation through their contributions across virtually every field,” said Michael D. Nieves, president and CEO of HITN MEDIA. “This year, we recognize individuals whose vision and determination opened doors in cinema, journalism, theater, diplomacy, and education. Their pursuit of social justice reflects the perseverance and strength of the Puerto Rican community, allowing future generations to pay it forward.” The five honorees represent different generations and fields of achievement: Rita Moreno, an Oscar, Tony, two-time Emmy and Grammy winner; Juan González, a journalist and co-host of Democracy Now!; Antonia Pantoja, founder of ASPIRA and advocate for bilingual education; Mari Carmen Aponte, former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador and Panama; and Jacobo Morales, a filmmaker whose work brought international attention to Puerto Rican cinema.

The ceremony also featured the premiere of five short films documenting the lives and achievements of the honorees, followed by the presentation of commemorative plaques. Now in its fifth year, HITN MEDIA’s Puerto Rican Heritage series has become a central part of the network’s programming during Puerto Rican Heritage Month. The films and the complete series are available through HITN MEDIA’s digital platforms, including HITN GO and the Puerto Rican Heritage website.