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By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, graduation time is now upon us. And for everyone donning the cap and gown, that means big parties and big name speakers for the commencement address. This year, a ton of notable names are imparting wisdom on the Class of 2012, including some Tr3s faves.

New York University students got treated to a speech from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The trailblazing legal eagle kept her tone light and memorable, starting with the words, "This is a-w-e-some!" Sonia went on to share tidbits of her own personal story and emphasized the importance of education.

"I dreamed about graduating from college," she said. "Then I grew bold and dreamed about becoming a lawyer and, someday, becoming a judge. But the only kind of judge I knew about was a trial judge on Perry Mason. I did not know what the Supreme Court was, and you can't aspire to do things you don’t know."

This weekend, Soledad O'Brien will be addressing the University of Delaware's graduating class. A Harvard alum herself, the half-Cuban news anchor should feel right at home among the college crowd. The school's VP, Pete Hayward, seemed thrilled about locking in O'Brien for the slot.

"As an award-winning journalist, Soledad O'Brien has witnessed and reported on many of the major news stories of our time," he said. "She has an exceptional perspective to share with the University's newest graduates and their families."

Graduates at Washington's Clark College will be treated to a speech from J.R. Martinez on June 21. The Iraq war veteran and Dancing With The Stars champ has packed in a lot of life lessons into his 28 years and will certainly have some great philosophies to share with the crowd.

Several top Hollywood celebs made the commencement rounds this year too. One of the most memorable speeches came from Three Stooges star Jane Lynch, who spoke at Smith College this past Sunday.

"If life gives you lemons, grab it by the horns and drive — and yes, I just mixed three metaphors. Remember, I was a C student" she jokingly said. "My advice to you: Live in the moment!"

Other big screen A-listers scheduled to speak include Steve Carell (at Princeton), Andy Samberg (at Harvard) and Bart Simpson's voice Nancy Cartwright (at Ohio University). President Obama made the rounds too, imparting his wisdom at the all-female Barnard College.

Which celeb do you think would give the best graduation speech? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Samberg, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Class of 2012, College, Education, J.R. Martinez, Jane Lynch, Nancy Cartwright, President Barack Obama, Soledad O'Brien, Sonia Sotomayor, Steve Carell

By Michael Lopez

Frankly, we're a little surprised that Republican contender Mitt Romney won Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary on Sunday, especially after the harsh words he said about Sonia Sotomayor. Upon arriving on the island, Romney criticized the Latin Supreme Court Justice for being "too liberal."

Anyone familiar with Sotomayor's history, knows she's a huge draw on the island. Both her parents were born near San Juan and she has proudly proclaimed her Puerto Rican heritage.

But Mitt seems to think she is a "liberal jurist" who doesn't always follow the Constitution. And if that weren't enough, he has also advocated to wipe out Spanish as Puerto Rico's official language.

Despite it all, Romney was able to secure a victory this past weekend. Puerto Rican governor Luis Fortuño (who's also Republican) chose his words very carefully regarding the candidates. Though he's definitely shown support for his party, Fortuño did speak out against Mitt's stance on Sonia.

"Justice Sotomayor’s nomination was a momentous occasion for Puerto Rican Americans," he said. "We're all proud of her accomplishments."

What do you think about Romney’s Sotomayor comments? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Luis Fortuño, Mitt Romney, Politics, Puerto Rico, republicans, Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

It's never too early to learn about the American legal system and this week on Sesame Street, young viewers got a taste of it thanks to Sonia Sotomayor. The Latina Supreme Court judge made a very memorable appearance on the show and even ruled on case involving Goldilocks and Baby Bear.

In a very cute segment, Sotomayor stumbles upon Baby Bear, a colorful Muppet who seemed to be in a bit of legal trouble. Baby broke the chair of Goldilocks and, as Sonia emphasized, it was now his responsibility to have it replaced.

But Sotomayor didn't just offer her advice, she actually threw on her trademark black robe and presided over the case!

"I always wear these robes when I hear a case,” she jokingly told the audience.

We actually think Sonia did a great job on the Street. Not only did she teach little ones about fairness and consideration, she showed off her very sharp sense of humor.

Did you catch Sonia's appearance on the Street? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Education, Muppets, Sesame Street, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, Television

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, over 18 million Americans are currently living with diabetes. And one of them happens to be the highest-ranking Latina in the legal system. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently spoke up about her condition and offered encouragement to those diagnosed with the disease.

"It's a disease you have to deal with, but you can," Sotomayor said this week at a function for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Sonia was diagnosed back when she was just seven years old and, as her accomplishments clearly show, it never got in the way of her dreams. She went to describe how she injects herself with insulin up to six times per day, often before sitting down to the Supreme Court bench.

Several diabetic children were also part of the discussion and clearly found encouragement from Sotomayor’s words. When asked by a young girl about the positives of the disease, Sonia was quick to answer.

"[It] taught me discipline," she said proudly.

And for the record, Sotomayor isn't the only famous face living with the disease. Halle Berry, Tommy Lee, and Nick Jonas are just a few of the many celebrities who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Do you know anyone living with diabetes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Diabetes, Health, Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

It's that time of the year again. The time when students across the country don those caps and gowns and prepare for their "next big journey." But before the 2011 grads step out into the real world, they'll get one last bit of wisdom from their university's commencement speaker. And this year, several colleges are booking some A-list talent to step up to the podium.

As expected, most of the top schools get their speeches from world dignitaries and trusted scholars. But one huge political leader is taking an entirely different route. President Barack Obama gave his commencement speeches to graduating students at Miami-Dade College and Tennessee's Booker T. Washington High School. Centered in one of the poorest districts in the country, the latter campus won the honor to hear Obama after participating in a Race to the Top competition.

Ex-Commander-In-Chief Bill Clinton spoke to a slightly larger crowd for his NYU address. Talking to a packed house at New York's Yankee Stadium, the former President drew massive cheers when he stepped onto the field in his purple gown.

Adding some Latin flair to the commencement world, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made an impassioned speech at New Jersey's Ramapo College. Dressed in a black gown, the 56-year-old trailblazer spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the importance of following your dreams.

"I have lived all my dreams and, more incredibly, have far surpassed them," she said. "Dreams do not come true simply because of luck or innate talent. They only come true if you work hard to make them come true."

Interestingly, Sotomayor had some personal reasons for speaking at Ramapo. Her godson, Tommy Butler Jr., was part of the graduating class, having earned his master's degree in nursing.

Another Latino leader, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is set to say some very inspirational words to the parting students at Stanford University. A graduate from Harvard, Calderon's speech is expected to draw a flurry of activity. So much so, that the faculty is planning to stream it live.

But don't think it's just the political elite that are getting the Class of 2011 worked up. Several celebs are offering their unique perspectives to the new graduates as well. Comedienne Amy Poehler will be speaking at Harvard on Wednesday and earlier in the week, Tom Hanks drew big cheers for his address at Yale.

And all of you Team Coco fans may want to check YouTube for bootlegs on June 12. That’s the day when comedian Conan O’Brien takes the mic at the Dartmouth graduation and we’re sure it will be very quotable.

Which celeb would you most like to hear a commencement speech from? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Poehler, Barack Obama, bill clinton, Celebrities, Class of 2011, College, Conan O'Brien, Education, Felipe Calderon, Graduation, Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks

By Michael Lopez

Looking back, July 2009 proved to be a difficult time for Sonia Sotomayor. Before getting appointed to her historic post, America’s fist Latina Supreme Court Justice had to deal with some pretty invasive questions.  Sonia recently spoke up about the difficulties of two-week confirmation process.

"There were private questions I was offended by,” Sonia said during a panel at the Northwestern University School of Law. “I was convinced they were not asking those questions of the male applicants."

It does seem rather odd for senators to inquire about the dating habits of a female Supreme Court Justice nominee when they don't ask the same questions of male nominees. But that’s exactly what happened, and Sonia believed it to be a double standard.

"I don't like people talking about my private life," Sotomayor said. "[I have] many single male colleagues who are judges who date often, bring dates to court affairs and nobody ever talks about them. I knew if I did the same thing, my morals would be questioned. So I'm very careful about whom I date and how public it is."

Speaking to law students and professors, Sonia explained the challenges and benefits of sitting on the Supreme Court. She also offered career advice for upcoming graduates and tips on how one can attract attention from state and federal judges.

But the biggest laugh of the day came when Sotomayor described just how much “information” the Senate Judiciary Committee was hoping to find.

"You know, and I don't mean to be graphic, but one day after I'd been questioned endlessly, for weeks at a time, I was so frustrated by the minutiae of what I was being asked about and said to a friend, 'I think they already know the color of my underwear!”

Are you inspired by Justice Sotomayor? Sound off in the comments or MTV3.

Tags Cultura, Education, Politics, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

By Michael Lopez

Ok, so only a handful of Latinas made Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women List, but it’s still quite an accomplishment and (hopefully) very inspiring for future female minority leaders (especially since Michelle Obama ranked #1). Sonia Sotomayor, Today Show host Meredith Vieira, and Giselle Bundchen were just a few of the ladies of Latin origin that made the list.

Image: AFP/Getty Images

Ranked at #19, Sotomayor has made quite an impact in the past year. Since being elected to the Supreme Court back in 2009, she’s already chimed in on several important verdicts, including Miranda Rights cases and First Amendment issues regarding campaign financing. Coincidentally, the newest female Supreme Court Judge, Elena Kagan, made an impact on the list too, ranking #25.

Portuguese businesswoman, Maria Ramos, was the next highest Latina, coming in at #32. As CEO of South Africa’s Absa Group Banks, she had worked her way up from chief executive of the state-owned rail, pipe, and ports agency, to the director of the South African National Treasury. She’s self-made, highly educated, and VERY wealthy.

The next Latina to make a dent is Today Show host Meredith Vieira, ranked at #40. Also of Portuguese descent, Meredith’s built up quite a respectable media career. She’ got nine Emmys from her CBS News days, has a huge following from her work on The View, and also currently hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Other top ranking Latinas include Argentinian president, Cristina Fernandez (Ranked #68), Costa Rican president, Laura Chinchilla (Ranked #83), and Brazilian model Giselle Bundchen, who scored #72 for the $25 million she raked in from endorsements and her designer clothing line.

Image: Getty Images

And how about the ladies who made the Top 5? Well we already mentioned #1 Michelle Obama, which is pretty obvious, being the First Lady and all. She was followed by the CEO of Kraft Foods, Irene Rosenfeld, Oprah Winfrey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and our own Secretary Of State, Hillary Clinton.

Source: [Forbes]

Who are your biggest female role models? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Christina Fernandez, Cultura, Forbes, Gisele Bündchen, Laura Chinchilla, Maria Ramos, Meredith Vieira, Michelle Obama, Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

Who knew that in between hearing pivotal cases on civil rights, corporate monopolies, and national security, Sonia Sotomayor and her fellow justices of the Supreme Court would be debating “Grand Theft Auto”? That’s exactly what will be happening November 2 in the California dispute over banning violent video games.

photo via Getty Images

It’s no secret that video game violence has been a hotly debated topic for years. Many contend that gun blasting, carjacking, and fistfights in the virtual world could lead kids to want to do the same in their real lives.

On the flip side, many major game companies argue that violent behavior in children can be traced more to their upbringing than what’s in their Xbox. They’ve contested that there’s very little evidence to prove titles like "Call Of Duty” and “Mafia II” contribute to negative behavior in kids.

photo via Gamespot

Either way, the fight’s now going to Washington D.C. thanks to new law signed by Cali governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His initiative would put a ban on the sale of video games deemed “violent” to any child under the age of 18 (with stiff fines for businesses that don’t comply).

He also wants to require violent video games to be packaged differently with heavy labels that would block the box cover art. Manufacturers challenged this law as “unconstitutional” and now it's headed straight to Sotomayor.

Now we’re not sure if she’s dabbled in any of the “Halo” or “Modern Warfare” games (she seems more like a “Tetris” person), but Sonia and her bench have a very big decision on their hands. One that could impact the entire video game industry. In the meantime, we’ll play neutral in the debate…and stick to our family-friendly Juanes “Rock Band” game instead.

Source: [Gamespot]

Do you think violent video games should be kept away from children? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grand Theft Auto, Politics, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, video games, Xbox

By Simone Hilliard

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor can now add author to her already impressive resume.

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group announced Monday (June 12) that it will publish Sotomayor's account of her life, described as a "coming-of-age memoir by an American daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants."

What can we expect to find in Justice Sotomayor's first memoir? Knopf says Sotomayor will not only write about growing up in the South Bronx and her relationship with her mother (and the loss of her father when she was nine years old), she'll also share details about her journey to Princeton University (on a full scholarship) and later to Yale Law School.

We can also look forward to learning more about a life in the law, culminating with her appointment to the federal bench.

The book does not have a publication date or title yet, but Sonny Mehta, chairman and editor in chief of the Knopf Publishing, released the following statement on the upcoming project:

“Sonia Sotomayor has lived a remarkable life and her achievements will prove an inspiration to readers around the world. Hers is a triumph of the Latino experience in America.”

We couldn't agree more!

Are you excited for Sotomayor's memoirs? Let us know below, or @MTV3!

Tags book, Cultura, latin, memoir, release, Sonia Sotomayor

These are the people that you just couldn't get enough of este año. From Alex Rodriguez finally getting su MLB World Series Championship anillo to Sotomayor being the first Latina Supreme Court Justice to los mejores de la música, estos hotshots tuvieron un gran año en el 2009. 

Click here for the full list of people that stood out in music, telenovelas, politics y deportes this year.

Dinos que piensas of our 2009 Hotshots. Did we forget anyone? Do you agree with our picks? 

Tags alex Rodriguez, Best of 2009, Beyonce, Latin Music, Shakira, Sonia Sotomayor