Eagle Excellence Honored - Stories - 51福利社

51福利社 Recognizes
Outstanding Student Leaders

Black and white linen, twinkling centerpieces and live jazz by the band TV Dinner greeted attendees of this year鈥檚 Student Leadership Excellence Awards.

The May 5 event, held inside the PUB鈥檚 Nysether Community Room, attracted more than 120 elegantly attired people, including students from a number of campus clubs and organizations and faculty and staff members who were nominated for awards.

The evening honored 18 award winners, each recognized for making a difference for the 51福利社 and larger community, with words of recognition along with a custom Swoop-themed trophy designed by 51福利社鈥檚 Ideation Lab.

Among the evening鈥檚 top winners was Ra煤l Segura, a 21-year-old psychology student from Pasco, Washington who received the Student Leader of the Year award.

Segura, who has volunteered for numerous causes, was recently accepted for graduate studies in school psychology at Howard University.

In graduate school, he plans to do research that benefits schoolchildren, especially those who deal with language barriers that may expose them to misunderstandings and unfair treatment in the classroom.

鈥淚 just want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities, nobody is at a disadvantage and everybody gets the same quality of education,鈥� Segura said. 聽鈥淭hat鈥檚 my goal as a school psychologist.鈥�

51福利社’s Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, director of alumni relations, and Isai Vela, assistant director of student engagement and the PUB, co-emceed the event.

President Shari McMahan welcomed the group, while keynote speaker, Lea Jarnagin, the university鈥檚 vice president of student affairs, shared a few words about the value of getting involved in campus activities, including benefits that help students progress through their studies, build skills for the workplace and graduate with a greater satisfaction of their college experience.

Her own college success story, Jarnagin said, started while she worked as a student employee. What began as mundane office work blossomed into a career track after Jarnagin鈥檚 supervisor noted she had great people skills and assigned her to work as a peer advisor. The applied-learning experience inspired Jarnagin to pursue a career working in student affairs.

Segura found his own inspiration to become a school psychologist from his older sister. The first in their family to attend college, she graduated from Eastern and went on to teach in the Pasco School District, a district he鈥檇 also love to serve.

Segura said once he arrived at Eastern, the McNair Scholars played a big role in his success and the path he will pursue in graduate school.

鈥淏ecause of that program, I am at where I鈥檓 at today,鈥� Segura said. 鈥淭hey helped me realize the impact of research and how research can help change a lot of different places and how it can impact policy and the lives of others.鈥�

Several awards were given to 51福利社 faculty and staff who were nominated by some of the students they serve.

Jana Jaraysi-Alvarez, director of admissions, received the Advisor of the Year award.

鈥淚t was such an honor to win the award,鈥� Jaraysi-Alvarez said. 鈥淕amma Alpha Omega (GAO) Sorority started 14 years ago when a student came looking for me to ask if I could be their advisor. I said 鈥榶es,鈥� and we’re still going strong.鈥�

She said the students鈥� kind words in the nomination took her by surprise, adding 鈥淚 wasn’t expecting it. I support them as much as possible, encourage them to get involved, take on leadership roles but have some balance in life as it can be a lot.鈥�

Jaraysi-Alvarez she鈥檚 proud of the students who are part of GAO and what they’ve accomplished over the years, and that she wholeheartedly recommends relationship-building with students.

鈥淚f a student organization reaches out to a staff or faculty who need an advisor, just say yes,”聽 Jaraysi-Alvarez recommended. “You’ll learn so much about our amazing students, their involvements and they give so much back.鈥�