Uncrowned Community Builders

Ms. Alicia Granto Estenoz is a counselor and academic advisor at SUNY College at Buffalo. Ms. Granto, born and raised in Santiago de Cuba, has a Masters degree from Long Island University in Education/Counseling and Bilingual Education, and a Bachelor of Science from Empire State College in Educational Studies. Alicia Granto has a teaching, administration, and counseling background and amongst many area commitments has been or is co-chair of the Educational Committee of the Western New York Hispanic and Friends Civic Association; a member of the Board of Directors if the Hispanic Women's League and chair of the membership committee; and a member of the Board of Director of Los Tainos Senior Citizens. She is also a local radio commentator for a weekly Sunday show.

Both community and SUNY have acknowledged Alicia's work in the community. Area awards include Lambda Upsilon Lambda, La Unidad Latina, "For her dedication and commitment to the Buffalo Community" and the Hispanic Network of New York, "Most Inspiring Role Model." Recent SUNY College at Buffalo awards: Hispanic Drama Club, Artistic Leader Trophy; United States Government Outstanding SUCB Staff Advisor, and Mentor of the Year Award, 1992.

In May of 1993 the Student Life Office at Buffalo State College created the Alicia Granto Award to be given every year to an outstanding graduating Latino Senior, who had excelled academically as well as personally and socially, while at Buffalo State College. Additionally, Alicia is coordinator of the Empowerment Project and the "Sombrilla" mentoring program which matches beginning freshmen with faculty, administrators, or staff members as significant others.

Alicia is presently teaching Spanish and French at Bennett High School. Wife of Antonio Estenoz, daughter of Adela Machiran Serrano Alicia and Antonio Estenoz have five children. Gina Alicia Penque, Angie Rose Lucarini, Diann Marie Bialec, Elena Adela White, Jerry Charles Granto, and fourteen grandchildren.