Scheef & Stone Spotlights Positive Immigrant Achievements
DALLAS – The Immigrant Journey Awards, an awards ceremony aimed at placing a spotlight on immigrant achievements and contributions to North Texas and the nation, held its annual Awards luncheon on Friday June 10, 2016. Awards were given to recognize this year’s most important contributors from the immigrant community to the civic and economic vitality of North Texas. Proceeds from the event are used to benefit the American Dream Scholarship for immigrant or first-generation American high school seniors in North Texas.
Emmy award-winning journalist Rebecca Aguilar served as the master of ceremonies and kept the crowd of approximately 120 attendees entertained. Guests included local dignitaries such as the Honorary Consul of the Consulate of Ecuador, Honorable Ricardo Miguel Bowen and a representative from the congressional office of Marc Veasey. Award finalists also received commendations from the congressional office of Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Now in its fifth year, the Immigrant Journey Awards program has become a staple event in North Texas shining a light on immigrant citizens who have made positive contributions in their respective fields and communities. The program, sponsored by Scheef & Stone LLP, was the brainchild of Ann Massey Badmus, Partner at Scheef & Stone.
“Immigrants make important positive contributions in every facet of life, from the business world to the public square,” said Badmus. “We see these annual awards as a way to celebrate all of those contributions and advocate immigrants throughout North Texas and beyond.”
Award candidate nominations include entrepreneurs, advocates, civic leaders and individuals who have made substantial professional achievements in their field. Finalists are awarded in the categories of Immigrant Entrepreneur, Immigrant Professional Excellence, Immigrant Spirit and Immigrant Advocate; there is typically more than one award winner in each category. Of the many nominations received, nine winners were recognized and they represent a broad scope of immigrants living in North Texas communities with roots in countries including Pakistan, Argentina, Iran, India, and Ethiopia.
2016 Immigrant Journey Award Winners:
2016 Immigrant Entrepreneur Award
Beatriz Manetta, Plano, Texas
President and CEO, Argent Associates, Inc.
2016 Immigrant Entrepreneur Award
Ali Samana, Frisco, Texas
Co-Founder, 1 Solar Solution, LLC
2016 Immigrant Entrepreneur Award
Ami Doshi, Dallas, Texas
Founder of Milaap USA
2016 Immigrant Professional Excellence Award
Dr. Anshul Agarwal Arlington, Texas
Founder & Director Redbird Wellness PLLC
2016 Immigrant Professional Excellence Award
Dr. German Gutierrez, Ft Worth, Texas
Director of Orchestras and Professor of Orchestral
Studies, TCU
2016 Immigrant Advocate Award
Dr. Michele Bobadilla, Dallas, Texas
Founder of University Crossroads, UT Arlington
2016 Immigrant Advocate Award
Leah Seyoum-Tesfa, Irving, Texas
Nurse and Founder of Reaching East African
Children and Families
2016 Immigrant Spirit Award
Ravi Calyanakoti, Plano, Texas
Innovation Coach (AT&T Foundry), Nokia
2016 Immigrant Spirit Award
Sina Sabet Sarvestani, Dallas, Texas
Youth Mentor/Teacher Assistant, Sam Tasby
Middle School
Three high school seniors were awarded American Dream Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. All scholarship applicants were required to submit a writing sample, exhibit leadership qualities, and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
The 2016 American Dream Scholarship Recipients are:
• Samuel Baucom, senior, Duncanville High
• Monica Aguirre, senior, Conrad High
• Suipen Tial, senior, Lake Highlands High
According to the organization Partnership for a New American Economy, more than four million Texas residents – about 16% of the population – were foreign born as of 2013. The annual Immigrant Journey Awards event coincides and partners with Immigrant Heritage Month, an opportunity for everyone to rally around the diversity of the country and celebrate the country’s shared heritage as a nation of immigrants.
Immigrant Journey Award Categories
Immigrant Entrepreneur Award – Honoring an immigrant business owner who has founded a highly successful business in DFW and who serves as a model and inspiration of success.
Immigrant Professional Excellence Award – Honoring an immigrant who has demonstrated significant professional achievements in their field and whose advancements in their field have positively impacted their profession or community.
Immigrant Spirit Award – Recognizing an immigrant civic leader or elected official who has contributed substantially to the community or the region.
Immigrant Advocate Award – Recognizing an individual, organization, business, or governmental entity who has made a positive impact on the lives of immigrants, and who advocates on behalf of immigrants.
For more information, visit immigrantjourney.org
Scheef & Stone, LLP provides solid counsel to its valued clients by forging innovative legal solutions to build treasured and lasting relationships. From its offices in Dallas and Frisco, members of the firm recognize their services are not about them and hold themselves to the highest standards, by embracing the art of going above and beyond the extra mile. These values have led to strategic growth, bringing our attorney count to approximately 60 lawyers practicing in a full-service transactional and business law firm with services including immigration, corporate, cybersecurity, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, tax, construction law, banking, intellectual property, healthcare, and employment law.