July 7, 2020 – San Antonio ISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez has been named among this year’s list of Great Immigrants, published annually by Carnegie Corporation of New York. The list honors naturalized citizens who have enriched and strengthened the nation and its democracy through their contributions and actions, and it has been published each Fourth of July since 2006.

This year, 38 honorees were selected to highlight the work of millions of immigrants who are playing essential roles in the global health crisis as COVID-19 responders. The honorees were recognized as 2020 Great Immigrants in an online tribute and in a full-page public service announcement in the New York Times. 

Superintendent Martinez was named to the list for his leadership in overseeing the transition to remote learning for approximately 49,000 students within his district, including the distribution of 30,000 computers and 4,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to ensure the students had access to continue their learning once COVID-19 forced the closure of school buildings.

Overall, the 2020 Great Immigrants represent 35 countries of origin and a wide range of contributions to American life, from human rights and computer science to art, business, education, health care, journalism, music, politics, religion, research, and sports.

“Millions of brave Americans responded with selflessness and urgency to COVID-19, including immigrants, who represent one out of six nurses and one out of four physicians. Their contributions to health care, biomedicine, the nation’s food system, and many other critically important sectors are immeasurable,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. “We express our admiration and gratitude to the COVID-19 responders and researchers, and to all Great Immigrants. They have come from different backgrounds, and have pursued different worthwhile goals, but collectively, they have shared a desire to become citizens and have made our democratic society stronger. For all of their efforts, we salute them.”

The Great Immigrants initiative is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who rose from poverty to become a leading industrialist. The 2020 honorees mark the 15th class of Great Immigrants. 

Click here for the full announcement from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, including the list of all honorees.

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