Your college career is an inspiring example of combining education with advocacy and social change. Your academic focus is African-American, African, and Asian American studies, and at the same time you have become a leader at the University of Minnesota in empowering immigrant youth and promoting appreciation of cultural diversity. As vice-president of operations for an international, multicultural fraternity, you created a campaign to increase awareness on campus of gender and domestic violence and brought the fraternity into service projects across the Twin Cities. As president of the Philippine Student Association you raised money for typhoon relief. As advocacy co-chair of the Midwest Asian American Students Union you have been active in bringing the Union to the University of Minnesota to provide further support and political unity among Asian American students in the Midwest. Your voice has been heard across campus on topics of cultural sensitivity, the underrepresentation of communities of color in historical organizations and public history graduation programs, and multi-cultural leadership development.
What is more noteworthy than your organizational accomplishments is the way you have identified and constantly pursued a mission in your life to connect, appreciate, and support people of all races and cultures. This is following your inner guidance rather than an external self-serving agenda, this is finding joy in serving others, this is acting from the heart. This is the way Sullivan Ballou lived, and we are delighted to be able to recognize you in this small way as someone who is reflecting the same spirit.
Congratulations!
Elissa and Bruce Peterson, Founding Members