On Wednesday (August 31), the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) announced a handful of additions to its honorees for its upcoming 2022 Impact Awards gala.
The new recipients will include Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle), Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show), and Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied).
Maridueña will be presented with the NHMC Rising Star Impact Award for his advocacy in the Latine community and for his positive impact on screen portraying a Latine character.
“His projects closely align with NHMC’s mission to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward the Latinx community,” said NHMC in a statement. “He has earned critical praise for his portrayal of Miguel Diaz in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which continues to be one of the platform’s top performers.”
The fifth season of Cobra Kai premieres on September 9. Next summer Maridueña will star as the title role in Blue Beetle, which will mark the first time DC Comics will have a Latine lead in a superhero movie. Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto will present him with the award.
Valderrama will receive the Trailblazer Impact Award for his career as an actor, producer, philanthropist, and for being an advocate in the Latine community. “Wilmer supports emerging leaders and artists by amplifying their voices,” said NHMC in a statement. As an advocate, Valderrama works with organizations like the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Voto Latino, the USO, and co-founder of HARNESS, a group he co-founded with America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams.
The honorees who had already been announced were actors George & Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Francia Raisa (How I Met Your Father), and producer Yvett Merino (Encanto).
The NHMC’s Impact Awards gala takes place on September 9, 2022.