Paulina Montaldo Received Hispanic Ohioan Award

The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission honored the Youngstown educator for her leadership and service.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Hispanic

Paulina Montaldo Received Hispanic Ohioan Award

Paulina Montaldo has been awarded the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award by the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission. She is the only recipient from Youngstown among the ten individuals honored across the state.

Why it matters

The award recognizes Hispanic and Latino Ohioans who have demonstrated exceptional contributions in fields including education, leadership, and public service.

Ten individuals across Ohio received this year's Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award. Paulina Montaldo was selected as the sole recipient from Youngstown.

The players

Paulina Montaldo

She is a journalism and Spanish teacher at Ursuline High School and the founder of the Somos Youngstown YouTube channel.

Ohio Latino Affairs Commission

This state organization is responsible for honoring Hispanic and Latino Ohioans for their achievements in various professional and philanthropic fields.

The details

Montaldo teaches journalism and Spanish at Ursuline High School and serves as a translator for the Diocese of Youngstown. Additionally, she founded the YouTube channel Somos Youngstown, which highlights Hispanic contributions throughout the Mahoning Valley, and she contributes to The Catholic Echo.

October 9, 2026: News of the award presentation was reported.

Culture Shift

This recognition reflects a broader trend of celebrating localized cultural leadership within the state. It follows the pattern set by the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award program in elevating individual community contributions.

Residents in the Mahoning Valley may gain increased awareness of Hispanic history through Montaldo's ongoing educational and media efforts. Her work serves as a practical resource for those engaging with Spanish-language journalism and local Catholic community news.

The takeaway

Recognizing educators like Montaldo highlights the vital role that local media and teaching play in preserving cultural narratives. Readers can support similar efforts by seeking out community-focused media platforms that document the history and contributions of their own regions.