• ​2010: Saura Henry
  • 2011: Varonica Alamilla
  • 2012: Indra Chanlagai & Mariana Zamora
  • 2013: Ana Romero
  • 2014: Jose Arreaga & Adama Diakhate
  • 2015:  Alma Oñate & Yohannes Amsalu
  • 2016:  Alexis Nizigiyimana & Dulce Ortiz Perez
  • 2017: Lizette Hernandez
  • 2018: Yordy Cabrera Garcia & Yessenia Cantero Hernandez
  • 2019: Laurette Kameni and Helen Kidane
  • 2020: Ndieme Ngom and Paul Aulis
  • 2021: Aya Hijji and Gracie Perez-Vasquez
  • 2022: Sue Subba and Alisar Darwish
  • 2010: Richard Longshore, MD
  • 2011: Lawrence Heitkamp
  • 2012: Katherine Finnel
  • 2013: Akram Moller
  • 2014:  Jane Portman
  • 2015:  Julie Tolbert
  • 2016:
  • 2017: Azar and Janene Nader
  • 2018: Cincinnati State Writing Center
  • 2019: Julie Nettleton
  • 2020: Sandra Ramirez Puac

Students of the Year:

the English language learning foundation's 14th-Annual Recognition Breakfast

Community Ally of the Year:

Educator of the Year:

Tutor of the Year:

Make a Difference Award:

  • 2010: Leo Calderon
  • 2011: Maria Molina
  • 2012: Mary Jo Montenegro Miller
  • 2013: Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. 
  • 2014: Vera Brooks
  • 2015:  Good Samaritan Free Health Center
  • 2016:  Dr. Gregory Stewart
  • 2017: Sisters of Charity
  • 2018: Alfonso Cornejo, Hispanic Chamber
  • 2019: Roberts Academy Welcome Center
  • 2020: Leo Calderon
  • 2021: Su Casa Hispanic Center
  • 2022: Lourdes Ribera
  • 2021: Maribel Cortes Conde
  • 2022: Julie Leftwich, Esq. 

English Language Learning Foundation, Inc.


Join us on April 19, 2022 at Northern Kentucky University!

​Keynote speaker: Dr. Bryan Wright

Executive Director of Cincinnati Compass

The ELL Foundation's Recognition Breakfast is our annual fundraiser held each February. This year's Recognition Breakfast was rescheduled for April due to COVID-19. Every year, the Foundation invites donors, students, educators, and friends from the community to gather for a meal to celebrate the accomplishments of bright EL students battling adversities, caring and dedicated educators, and organizations that have made a significant difference in the community. 

At every Recognition Breakfast, the Foundation honors the Students of the Year, Educator of the Year, Community Ally of the Year, and the Make a Difference Award.  Below are a few of the honorees from prior years:

​Tickets and Sponsorships

Tickets can can no longer be ordered online. You may purchase a ticket at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis.  ​Tickets are $40 each, table sponsorships are $400, and event sponsorships start at $1,000. 






​Award Nominations

We are not currently accepting nomination forms for Educator of the Year, Community Ally of the Year, and the Make a Difference Award. 






  • 2010: Maria Lang
  • 2011: Dr. Miriam Steinitz-Kannan
  • 2012: Maria Hidalgo
  • 2013: Irene Encarnacion
  • 2014: Christine Erkine
  • 2015:  Alison Palassis
  • 2016:  Mary Ronan
  • 2017:  Yasmeen Khan
  • 2018: Aaron Parker
  • 2019: Megan Kreaps
  • 2020: Larry Feist
  • 2021: Mary Jo Montenegro Miller
  • 2022: Jackie Rowedder