Some 300 people recently attended a 25th anniversary celebration of Whitewater’s Community ESL (English as a Second Language) Program, according to information released by the event’s organizers.

The event was held late last month at 841 Brewhouse, Whitewater, a restaurant on the city’s east side.   

The celebration, which included music, dinner, a recognition ceremony and dance, “honored the many individuals and organizations that have partnered with founders Jorge Islas-Martínez and Sandra Heyer over the years to teach English and life-skills to language learners and families new to the area,” the release noted. 

Members from various sectors of the community, including those of education, business, city government, health care, and social services, among others, were in attendance, the release stated, as well as “many past and present students, teachers and their families.”

A list of honorees included: Sarah S. Lynn, Anjie Kokan, José A. Martínez, Marlene Martínez, Margaret Fischer, Simone McKinney, Wallace Sherlock, Terilyn Robles, Alisson Keiser, Jessie Dugan, Katherine Konover, Susan Huss- Lederman, Silvana Del Val, Maritza Guerra Sucuc, Jesús Vargas, Margaret Jones, Antonio Cortez, Jennifer Paulson, Marta Aranda, Henrrique Alas Melgar, Rita C. Luna, Yasmin Palomec García, and Mireyda Palomec Cortes.

In addition, the release read, “Islas-Martínez received a special honor from Voces de la Frontera for his community advocacy.”