Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Every year on May 31st, as part of the city's anniversary celebrations, the Premio Vallarta awards are given to those citizens who have acted for the benefit of the community in one way or another.

At Monday's plenary session of the city council, the list of the 2018 Premio Puerto Vallarta winners was approved, and the awards will be delivered on Thursday, May 31, during the solemn session on the occasion of the centenary of Puerto Vallarta as a municipality and its 50 years as a city.

The Premio Vallarta is the highest award granted by the municipality to the inhabitants of this port. Awarded to Vallartenses by birth or adoption who have resided in the city for at least five years, the prize recognizes eminent merit or distinguished and exemplary behavior relevant to deeds or services performed for the town and its inhabitants, as well as heroic acts. This year's recipients include:

The Alas de Águila Foundation will receive the "Ignacio Luis Vallarta Ogazón" award; the "Teresa Barba Palomera" award will go to La Asociación Vallarta Azteca del Folclor Internacional; and Dr. Luis González Lomelí will be given the "Francisca Rodríguez Rodríguez" award.

Other awardees include U.S. Consular Agent, Kelly Trainor de Oceguera, who will be awarded the "Jesús Palacios Robles" medal; notary Carlos Castro Segundo, who will receive the "Agustín Flores Contreras" prize; and Luis Alberto Robles Viorato, who will be recognized with the "Alfonso Díaz Santos" award.

The Premio Vallarta has been awarded to the public annually since 1998. The areas that are recognized are: culture, sports, education, politics, lawyers and prominent cultivators of social sciences, economic development and institutional loyalty.

Awards, recognition and incentives are granted to individuals or legal entities for outstanding activities and performance of their assigned duties and any exceptional act that benefits the municipality or its inhabitants.

Before closing the session, the interim mayor, Rodolfo Domínguez Monroy, invited the entire city council to participate in the centennial celebrations, and encouraged them to make an appearance at the various events and activities to give greater prominence to this important celebration.