06/09/09 Yakima People

Valley Farm Workers Clinic founder receives national volunteer award

A Zillah man recently received national recognition for helping make health care accessible to low-income people for more than 30 years.

Mike Esquivel received the Outstanding Volunteer award from the National Association of Community Health Centers.

The award was given during the organization's national convention in San Antonio, Texas, in May. Clinics in the national association serve 18 million people at more than 7,000 sites.

Esquivel, 78, is one of the original members of the board of directors of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, which he helped found in Toppenish in 1978.

Involved in migrant issues all his professional life, Esquivel is an educator who retired from the Washington State Migrant Education Center in Sunnyside.

In 2003, he was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Migrant Health, a board that makes recommendations on health care to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He served four years in that capacity.

Highland High School graduate wins 'Teacher to Remember' essay contest

Denise Castro, a who graduated from Highland High School in Cowiche this year, recently won a Washington Education Association essay contest titled "A Teacher to Remember."

Castro's essay was about Megan Jacobson, who teaches English as a second language at the school. In her paper, Castro credited Jacobson for introducing her to the American education system and teaching her how to succeed as a migrant student.

As a winner, Castro is receiving a $150 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

About 1,000 people submitted entries to the essay contest, which is celebrating its 16th year. Entries were judged on grammar, syntax, organization of material and personalization of the tribute. Five winners were chosen.

In addition to this contest, Castro took third place in another writing competition sponsored last year through Migrant Education News. She plans to attend Western Washington University in the fall and major in engineering.