TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State baseball staff member Armando Flores has received The Victoria Foundation's Edith Sayre Auslander, Outstanding Support of Hispanic Issues in Higher Education Award.

Flores is entering his sixth season as Director of Administration and Community Affairs for the team. The award, given to a person in the community that has demonstrated significant accomplishments in the support of Hispanic issues, is in honor of Edith Sayre Auslander, a former member of the Arizona Board of Regents and a pioneer for championing Latino higher education issues.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized for my community involvement, but I'm most appreciative of the opportunity to support the ASU baseball program," Flores said. "The time I've spent here has allowed me to connect with the Phoenix valley and Arizona in ways I could have never envisioned."

The third annual Arizona Higher Education Awards were presented at a breakfast on Sept. 5 at the Ritz-Carlton Phoenix. The Sun Devil baseball staff and Sr. Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi attended the ceremony in support of Flores.

The Victoria Foundation, established in 2008 with the support of a Community Development Corporation, is the first Latino Community Foundation in the United States. Its mission is to engage the Latino community and others in increasing the resources that will bring significant change to communities and make a positive difference for neighborhoods and families in Arizona.

"Armando is a valuable member of not only the baseball staff, but the ASU family as a whole," head baseball coach Tim Esmay said. "It has been a privilege to work with him for the past five seasons and I look forward to many more."

Prior to joining the Sun Devil baseball program, Flores was an executive at Arizona Public Service.

Flores joined Arizona Public Service Company in 1991 as Vice President of Human Resources. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 1996 and served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Business Services from 1998 until 2008.

His management responsibilities included the following corporate functions: Human Resources, Information Technology, Environmental, Communications, Community Relations, Economic Development, Security, Safety, Facilities Management and other organizational support functions.

Prior to joining APS he held management positions at Levi Strauss & Company, Boise Cascade Corporation and Aerojet General Corp.

Flores civic involvement includes the ASU College of Education Dean's Council, the ASU College of Public Programs Advisory Council, the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors, the Children's Action Alliance Board and the University of Pacific Alumni Board. He also serves on the Blood Systems Inc. Board of Directors.

Flores graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He received his Master of Arts degree from Portland State University in Counseling/Human Resource Management.

Flores and his wife, Debra, reside in Scottsdale and have three sons.

For more information on the Victoria Foundation and how you can help, please visit www.thevictoriafoundation.org.