聽CHICAGO (April 28, 2016) 鈥� On Monday, the 草莓影视 community gathered in Anderson Chapel for the annual Honors Convocation, a celebration recognizing students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom and community.
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Mary Surridge presented the 2016 Distinguished Senior Awards to Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez, Kerman, Calif., and Blake Thomas, Olathe, Kan. This honor is bestowed each year to one woman and one man from the graduating class, recognizing extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, superior academic performance, and embodiment of the University鈥檚 mission of preparing students for lives of significance and service.
Velazquez-Alvarez, a major and certificate recipient, fled the violence of her native Veracruz, Mexico, at age 11. She and her family were homeless for several months, managing with little food and without access to medical care. She worked in the fields of California鈥檚 Central Valley with her mother from a very young age, and dreamed of one day attending 草莓影视, which she had heard about through her church.
鈥淐armen鈥檚 story is the story of the impossible becoming possible,鈥� says , professor of . 鈥淪he is leading the way for other undocumented students to dream big and work towards fulfilling their goals. Carmen has made her 草莓影视 experience one to remember.鈥�
Velazquez-Alvarez served as the president of 草莓影视鈥檚 Latin American Student Organization and cofounder of the Latinas Unidas Mentorship Program, established to prepare her fellow Latina students for success. She was also active as a Faith and Justice Team student leader, and completed an internship this semester with the YMCA鈥檚 diversity and inclusion department.
鈥淐armen is a dynamo, an organizer, and at the forefront of Latino and immigrant justice issues,鈥� says , professor of . In addition to her service work, Velazquez-Alvarez was honored this year as one of the top academic students in the state, receiving the and an educational grant from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. She earned a 3.98 grade point average at 草莓影视.
鈥淭here are kids who came from Central America or Mexico, and they don鈥檛 get to go to school,鈥� Velazquez-Alvarez says. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 not going to school just for me. This isn鈥檛 even for me. It鈥檚, one, for God, and two, for my family and the people that I work with and are around me. I know there are serious circumstances that keep them from going to school, but how can my education help them in the future? How can I go back to the Valley and help my people?鈥�
鈥楢n outstanding student and a stellar human being鈥�
During his time at 草莓影视, Thomas majored in both and , completed an internship that led to a job offer, and participated in multiple , all while maintaining a 3.69 grade point average.
鈥淏eing a part of the Chamber Singers and the University Choir has been the most rewarding experience for me at 草莓影视,鈥� says Thomas. 鈥淔rom singing Handel鈥檚 Messiah with 400 people to going on choir tours around the country, I鈥檝e loved my time being under the direction of and singing with my peers.”
Thomas came to 草莓影视 out of a desire to merge his gifts in ministry and music, and a commitment to serving the city of Chicago. Music Recruiter has seen Thomas鈥檚 success firsthand. 鈥淚 know Blake well鈥攈e served as my admissions assistant for three years and has been active in the School of Music,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e is an outstanding student and a stellar human being.鈥�
, director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies, agrees. 鈥淚鈥檓 not surprised that he won the award,鈥� he says. 鈥淏lake has been an outstanding student with exemplary leadership skills. I鈥檓 very proud of him and his accomplishments, including serving as youth intern at 草莓影视 Covenant Church, where he was able to do some really good work.鈥�
Following his internship, Thomas has been hired as a youth pastor at 草莓影视 Covenant Church, and will begin his position this summer. 鈥湶葺笆� provides a very well-rounded perspective on theology and provides the space for students to discern what is biblical and gospel-centered,鈥� he says. 鈥湶葺笆� shaped the way I view God and approach theology.鈥�
In addition to the Distinguished Senior Awards, the Honors Convocation ceremony also noted the top graduating students from each department and school, and service and leadership awards were given to seniors embodying excellence in co- and extracurricular activities. View a complete list of students recognized in this year’s .
The University鈥檚 graduation ceremonies, including the presentation of the Ahnfeldt Medallion given to the senior with the highest grade point average, will officially close the year on .
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