The IU Alumni Association in collaboration with La Casa/Latino Culture Center are proud to announce that Patricia Mota received the Distinguished Latino Alumni Award on October 14, 2023, during La Casa/ Latino Culture Center’s 50th anniversary banquet. The purpose of the Distinguished Latino Alumni Award is to provide recognition for outstanding achievements by the Latino/a/x people of Indiana University. The nominee shall have been outstanding in their chosen field of endeavor. And/or, the nominee shall have made significant contributions benefiting their community, state, nation, or university.

“Patricia for as long as I have known her both as a student and now as a professional, has had a never-ending energy and passion for giving back to the community,” Lillian Casillas, BA’89, AC’ 89, MS’98 Director of La Casa/Latino Culture Center, said. “The list of her accomplishments is endless both as a student and professional which have contributed to the advancement of the Latino community. What is also special about Patricia is that she is someone who is humble and is easy to connect with. These are a few of the reasons that were shared by the selection committee and why she was this years IU Latino Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.”

Martin Vargas, BS’94, also said during the presentations, “Patricia Mota is singular and stands out for who she is and what she does. I find her inspiring because you can find your story in her story. She’s a Mexican American, Latina, the daughter of immigrants, from East Chicago, Indiana. A first-generation college student and three-time IU alumna who through hard work and persistence leveraged her talents to become a CEO who connects people with their future. She does this at scale, as leader of Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, and one to one on an individual personal basis by listening, hearing you, and then connecting you with people who can shape your future. She has mastered the virtuous circle by connecting people who together and do amazing things not just for their benefit but for the greater good. That’s what makes her distinguished and the standard bearer as an IU Latino alumna.”