SEATTLE, Wash. - January 15, 2002 - Today Nordstrom and Hispanic Magazine will present Mr. Ray Salazar with the 2001 Teacher of the Year Award during a reception and dinner held in his honor. For the past five years Mr. Salazar has taught business and vocational studies at his alma mater, Casa Grande Union High School in Casa Grande, Arizona. He was selected by a national panel of Hispanic leaders from over 70 applicants from across the country for exhibiting excellence in curriculum innovation, subject competence and the ability to motivate students. The 2001 award marks the seventh year that Nordstrom and Hispanic Magazine have partnered to recognize an outstanding educator who is making a difference in his or her community.

"As a former banker, Ray Salazar brings a unique perspective to his classroom and is able to offer his students a tremendous wealth of business expertise," said Delena Sunday, executive vice president of diversity affairs for Nordstrom. "Ray’s commitment to fostering an atmosphere of trust and respect in his classroom was illustrated by the many letters his students wrote on his behalf. We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to acknowledge Ray and the tremendous contributions he has made to his students."

Ray’s high school business teacher, Dr. Voie Coy, to whom Ray credits a great deal of his success, was impressed by his ability to grasp bookkeeping principles and encouraged him to pursue a career in business. After graduating from high school in 1963, Ray attended Arizona State University for one semester. Ray then followed Dr. Coy’s advice and found a job in banking. In 1964 he was hired as a proof machine operator/bookkeeper by First National Bank of Arizona, which later became First Interstate Bank. In seven years Ray was promoted to assistant manager. He left banking in 1974 and joined his family’s company, Salazar Construction Inc. During this time he worked all phases of construction and also served as Treasurer of the corporation. Four years later, he returned to First Interstate Bank where he was promoted to bank manager and later to assistant vice-president. It was during this time and at the age of forty-two that Ray earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Phoenix.

After a 28 year banking career Ray decided to become a teacher in hopes of later becoming a corporate trainer. Although Ray returned to school with this idea, he found his true calling as a teacher. Once he earned his teaching credentials he began teaching at Casa Grande High School and not long afterwards returned to the University of Phoenix where he earned his master’s in education at the age of fifty-five with a 4.0 grade point average. He has also received his superintendent certification.

Ray was inspired by the movie "Stand and Deliver." The film’s main character, Jaime Escalante, is one of Ray’s role models. Escalante whose philosophy that "students will rise to the level of expectation" has become the foundation for Ray’s teaching style. He believes that lessons with everyday applications best prepare students for their future. Ray compares his job to being a surrogate parent and he stresses the importance of goal setting. The "golden rule" in Mr. Salazar’s classroom is respect—for parents, teachers and staff, students, school property, and especially for oneself.

"At this critical time of myriad educational challenges and opportunities, Ray Salazar is certainly forging the way by shaping our future leaders," emphasizes Sam Verdeja, Publisher of Hispanic Magazine. "His path to becoming a teacher is inspirational to those who have thought of changing careers in their mid-lives but have hesitated because the risk seemed too great. Not only did Ray change course, but he has made a successful and meaningful transition and that is why this award is well deserved. Ray Salazar has raised the bar as far as role models are concerned."

As part of the 2001 Teacher of the Year Award, Nordstrom and Hispanic Magazine will also send Mr. Salazar and his wife Beverly to Washington, D.C. January 16 - 18, 2002. There they will tour the Capitol and meet with Department of Education officials to discuss the challenges facing students today.

Hispanic Magazine is the premiere magazine for Latinos with a national distribution of 260,000. The magazine is published by the Hispanic Publishing Group, a 100 percent Hispanic-owned and operated business that publishes VISTA, Hispanic Trends and HispanicOnline.com.

Celebrating 100 years of service, Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 132 US stores located in 25 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 80 full-line stores, 45 Nordstrom Racks, four Façonnable boutiques, two freestanding shoe stores, and one clearance store. Nordstrom also operates 22 international Façonnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its direct mail catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.