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March 28, 2025

Lisa Martinez Honored with the 2025 Nuestra Latina Award

Three women stand together indoors, with the person in the middle holding an award.

Lisa Martinez, the Assistant Director of Diploma+ at Kansas City, Kansas Public (KCKPS), has been named one of this year’s distinguished recipients of the Nuestra Latina Award.

The honor was presented to here on Thursday, March 27, at a ceremony hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCC) of Greater Kansas City.

Three women stand together indoors, with the person in the middle holding an award.

The annual award was established to honor and recognize local Latinas who’ve shown great leadership, passion, and dedication while impacting their respective fields, from business and philanthropy to education.

“This award means a lot, especially coming from our community,” Martinez shared. “There aren’t a lot of Latinas in leadership within education (less than 2% nationally), and to be recognized as one of them- alongside the amazing work our district and team are doing- is what it is all about.”

A speaker stands at a podium on a stage with a large projection screen displaying a person's photo and text.

As a driving force behind several key initiatives within the Diploma+ program, Martinez has worked on several successful projects that have elevated and uplifted KCKPS students, preparing them for the future.

The annual College Fair Day is one of those impactful projects that has grown in size and scope. The event allows KCKPS junior and high school seniors to speak directly with college admissions representatives, military recruiters, technical schools, and scholarship organizations.

A speaker presents at a corporate event with the Evergy logo on the stage wall and a large screen displaying a photo.

Diploma+ has also spearheaded other initiatives and projects, including the annual Career Fair, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) College Night support event, as well as work base learning enterprises.

Though deeply appreciative of the honor, Martinez humbly credits her dedicated team with much of the program’s success. “I would like to again express how grateful I am to be recognized, but this is also a reflection of our amazing team and leadership within Diploma+,” added Martinez.

A smiling woman stands in front of a presentation screen reading 'LATINA' and 'BANK OF AMERICA'.

She also wants to acknowledge the importance of representation within education and the school district. “With our district being mostly Latino, representation matters, and I hope this helps our students and future educators see that their work has value and that they can do it,” she added.

Congratulations to Lisa Martinez on this well-deserved recognition and for her unwavering commitment to the future of KCKPS students.