SACRAMENTO (Map, News) - Former NFL star Jim Plunkett and Jaime Escalante, the math teacher who inspired the movie "Stand and Deliver," were honored Monday by the California Legislature.

Plunkett, 60, and Escalante, 77, were among 14 people presented with a Latino Spirit Award for their achievements in education, the arts, business, public service and sports. The award is given annually by the state Assembly to mark Cinco de Mayo.

Plunkett was recognized for his achievement in athletics and community service.

He quarterbacked the Oakland Raiders to victory in the 1981 Super Bowl, when he was named the game's MVP, and again in 1984 after the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. At Stanford, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1970.

Plunkett grew up in San Jose and spent most of his adolescence caring for his parents, both of whom were blind, by working odd-jobs.

Escalante was recognized for his achievement in education. The Bolivian native taught math at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, where in 1974 only 12 students enrolled for an algebra class.

Eight years later, Escalante drew scrutiny after 18 of his students passed the Advanced Placement calculus exam. The Education Testing Service questioned the result. Twelve students agreed to retake the exam, and all did well.

That story was told in the book "Escalante: The Best Teacher in America," by Jay Mathews, and in the movie, "Stand and Deliver."

Escalante now teaches part-time at a university in Bolivia.