MS HAWAII SENIOR AMERICA 2019,
ALMA GAMEZ

CONGRATULATIONS to ALMA GAMEZ, Ms Hawaii Senior America 2019!

ALMA GAMEZ  was raised in Brawley, California where she performed in high school shows, church fundraisers and community events. After high school graduation, she moved to South Gate, California where her aunt introduced her to Gilbert Gamez a professional baseball player and scout. Up until his recent passing, Gilbert and Alma were married for 50 years lovingly raising their 3 accomplished children.

As a 4th generation educator, Alma Gamez is very proud of their children who work for school districts as teacher, administrator and police officer. Their 5 grandchildren often share their knowledge of modern technology such as showing Alma how to edit musical CDs on the computer, and to navigate cell phone written communication in English and Spanish.

Alma has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish, a Masters in Cross-Cultural Education, Teaching Credentials, and an Administrative Credential. She retired as an administrator after 30 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District, Adult Division; and concurrently, 14 years as instructor with the Los Angeles Community College District. She made presentations on educational issues for the California State Department of Education, Arizona and Washington D.C., and through telecourse conferences on adult literacy that trained teachers in California and Nevada. She presented the history and government segments in “We the People: Opportunity U.S.A.”, a 45-lesson series that was broadcast on TV, was available in all Los Angeles County libraries, and was used in classrooms to prepare adults for American Citizenship.

Alma Gamez coordinated a San Fernando Valley Adult School Citizenship Program which resulted in granting citizenship to prepared and vetted individuals. She believes that American citizenship is very important because it empowers upright, informed persons to participate in the American democratic system of government.

Alma received a California Adult Teacher-of-the-Year trophy from the California Council of Adult Educators. She played the principal role in “Good Evening Teacher” a teacher-training video. She coordinated a Los Angeles Binational Conference which brought together sociologists and educators who discussed important cross-national issues. Recently, she received the Downey Follies Colette Fowler Director’s Award, a Ms. Senior San Diego Talent Award, a certificate from the Lions Club Student Speakers Program on Integrity and Civility in Today’s Society, and won the title of Ms. Senior Orange County 2017.

Alma has traveled to 15 countries in Europe and the Caribbean. She enjoyed historical sites and especially deepening her understanding of different cultures.

Because Alma believes that seniors need to be highly visible and engaged in society, she has returned to singing and dancing in many venues in California, Nevada and Louisiana. She performs with the Sizzlin’ Seniors, the Whittier Music Workshop and the Bellflower Civic Chorus, and is a member of the Red Hat Society. She volunteers at church and helps teach Spanish at a senior center. Alma plays the piano, believes in lifelong learning, and takes ballroom, hula and ukulele lessons while sharing her love of the arts with family, friends, audiences and, especially, other seniors.