Sonia Sotomayor | AP

President Barack Obama’s nomination of federal appellate court judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court is a historic event that immediately reverberated among Latinos, women and ordinary Americans who seek to achieve lofty dreams despite humble beginnings.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Sotomayor would become the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

Her story is exceptional and inspiring to Latinos, women and working-class families. Her parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico. She was raised in housing projects in the South Bronx.  Her father worked in a factory before he died when she was 9. Her mother worked two jobs while rearing her and her brother, now a physician.

Sotomayor gave heartfelt gratitude to her family in the audience at the news conference this morning. It was moving for many Americans, especially for Latino families and mothers who sacrifice to overcome great odds for the sake of their children.

There were lumps in throats and tears when she thanked her mother, Celina, and others in her family in the audience. It was a quintessential Latino moment showing reverence to mothers and the family unit. But even more important, it was an American moment for respect of the family foundation.

Such exposed emotions often are lacking when government appointees are nominated. Hers was the real deal, not something contrived for the Washington press corps or by a speech writer. It penetrated the hearts of Latinos and women reflecting on their relationship with their own mothers.

The president made a bold move to find a woman who also is a Latina. Her life story is compelling and will be repeated for many weeks to come. The president described her as “inspiring,” which indeed describes her life and ascending legal career.

Her experience is steep and her record lengthy. While the public still has much to learn about her legal opinions, she has one of the deepest legal portfolios among nominated Supreme Court justices.

Her life story also is dramatically refreshing. It will rule the headlines today. But the essence of how her nomination will fare will be based on her judicial temperament and intellect.

At age 54, she could have a long-term impact on a currently divided court for many years. The Senate owes the nation a thorough scrubbing of her past. Republicans already are marshaling their opposition by labeling her a liberal activist judge.

The Democratic majority in the Senate means she probably will be confirmed short of an unexpected revelation. Her experience and education at Ivy league schools, Princeton and Yale, would have served well a person with a different personal background.  Her career credentials are unassailable.

A bilingual boricua (person of Puerto Rican descent) who could rise to such a powerful post was an untested concept. El Nuevo Día newspaper in Puerto Rico posted the headline ”Nunca Imaginé Este Momento” (I Never Imagined This Moment) after her introduction as the nominee.

This is a trumph of the best and the brightest. She just happens to be the first Latina and one of the few women who have made such history. She helps to quash the outdated label of a “qualified minority,” which implies that qualifications usually are lacking for women and minorities.

She will enter a very public and politicized grilling as her nomination moves forward. Her life story is truly extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. That makes it very compelling to many Americans.

Today she embodies the ideal of “Sí Se Puede,” a Spanish phrase that means “Yes we can,” for Latinos and women. But it is her legal acumen built as a prosecutor, trial judge, corporate lawyer and appellate judge that will determine whether she joins the highest court. And she is qualified to serve.