Azcarraga receives LATINA Style service award

By Cathy VandermaarelSeptember 15, 2014

A U.S. Army Europe employee has been named the civilian recipient of the annual LATINA Style Meritorious Service Award for the third time in 4 years.

Mimi Azcarraga, Employment Compensation and Benefits Branch chief in the USAREUR G1 Civilian Personnel Directorate, received the award at the Eleventh National LATINA Symposium Sept. 10 in Washington, D.C. Previous USAREUR recipients were Vera Garcia (2012) and Irma P. Finocchiaro (2011).

"It was an honor to be a recipient of the Latina Style Distinguished Meritorious Award," Azcarraga said. "To be part of a large event such as this where all the military departments' Latina winners were recognized for their service and for enhancing the role of Latinas in their organizations was quite incredible and a very humbling experience."

The award recognizes military and Department of Defense civilian personnel who through their service have enhanced the role of Latinas in their organization and distinguish themselves by making significant contributions in the area of equal opportunity, civil rights programs and public service to their local community.

"My mantra has always been to help others and to be recognized in this forum for the work I have provided to Latinas, the workforce and my organizations has given me a new sense of self purpose and renewed dedication to helping others," Azcarraga said.

Azcarraga is active in the communities where she has been assigned. She is an active member of the Wiesbaden Community Spouse Club whose purpose is to sponsor educational, charitable, and social activities. While a member of the Kaiserslautern Hispanic American Club she coached other Hispanic women on employment opportunities and provided employment guidance.

Additionally, Azcarraga is a member of the Panama Canal Society for which she contributed articles and photos for publication, mentoring Latinas and assisting them with employment information. She is a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), where she has participated in online events supporting legalization of undocumented immigrants through a national immigration and citizenship program. The program assists with U.S citizenship application completion and citizenship classes as well as outreach to immigrant communities, even beginning English classes when needed.