Alverno College is receiving the inaugural Latino Spirit Award from Marcus Theatres in recognition of the college becoming the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Wisconsin and for a history of supporting first-generation students.

The award, given in conjunction with the second annual CineLatino Milwaukee Film Festival, honors individuals or organizations who are role models and community leaders and understand how to be agents of positive change.

“We understand that through collaboration with community, commitment to what unites us, and courage to sometimes go against the grain and be first, people and families are made stronger,” said Rolando Rodriguez, chairman, president and CEO of Marcus Theatres. “It is in this spirit that we honor Alverno College, which is a source of inspiration to the Hispanic community and all of our community.”

Alverno President Andrea Lee, IHM, will accept the award at the CineLatino Festival Premiere Night on April 11 at the BistroPlex℠ Cinema at Southridge Mall. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a networking reception and fundraising activities and all proceeds benefiting the Aurora Cancer Care – Spanish Clinic.

“The richness of our diverse student body and the intentional way in which we seek to build and support our campus community are in Alverno’s DNA,” Lee said. “I’m absolutely honored to accept this award on behalf of the college’s students, faculty and staff.”

For more information about the CineLatino Festival Premiere Night, please visit MarcusTheatres.com/PremiereNight.

About Marcus Theatres

Marcus Theatres^®, a division of The Marcus Corporation, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the United States and currently owns or operates 895 screens at 69 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio. For more information, please visit www.marcustheatres.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@Marcus_Theatres).

About Alverno College

Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business are open to women and men.

A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The College has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education and for the past eight years has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report.

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.