Who's Who Features Twelve UMass Boston Students
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by Anne-Marie Kent
One
is the single mother of two adopted children. Another has fifteen years
of experience in public management and policy. Yet another raised $70,000
for social justice causes. They are award-winners, recipients of the
Chancellor's Scholarship, Ventresca Scholarship, and other honors. All
have maintained high grade point averages while performing considerable
community service activities.
Who are they? They are a group of twelve UMass Boston students who were nominated for recognition in the 2001 edition of Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges, an annual directory published since 1934. Campus nominating committees and editors of the annual directory have based the inclusion of these students on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success.
UMass Boston students to be recognized in the upcoming volume are: Lisa Brabo, Collis Brown, Gregory Cloutier, Judith Diaz, Lauren Ellis, Cynthia Drew Etler, Jessica Liborio, Philip Mugo, Laurie Ross, Steven Solly, Mary Spooner, and Margaret Wiley. They join an elite group of students from more than 2,300 institutions of higher learning.
"Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges has been recognizing outstanding students for many years," said Director of Student Life Joyce Morgan. "All of our candidates were nominated by faculty or staff members who had noticed the students' work and dedication. The recognition concentrates not only on academic success, but on leadership and community participation, attributes which we know our students possess in great quantity."
The students named in Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges had a lot to say about the value of this recognition. "You do a lot of work and no one ever seems to take notice," said public policy doctoral student Mary Spooner, who completed the research project "Women Under Subjection of the Law: A Study of the Legal Responses to Women's Abuse in the English-Speaking Caribbean." This is the first study of intimate partner abuse in the English-speaking Caribbean, according to Professor Carole Upshur. Spooner said, "This is recognition for all the hard work."
Human performance and fitness student Greg Cloutier agreed, "It's an acknowledgment of your hard work and dedication." Cloutier already has coauthored a published article, "Pilot Study on the Effects of Resistance Training on Individuals with HIV." Cloutier added that the recognition will help other students find role models.
"It will help others see what students can do," agreed Philip Mugo, who contributes to the Center for Improvement of Teaching, representing the student body. A member of the African Student Association, Mugo has had experiences in Kenya working with the Family Support Institute, the Institute for Education in Democracy, and the Shelter for Women of Kenya.
Judith Diaz, another international student, came to UMass Boston as a political refugee. She fled persecution in her native Cuba for "bringing bread to political prisoners." She said, "I was expelled from medical school in Cuba for political reasons. I was terribly humiliated, but I am here now, studying biology, pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor." She looks forward to applying to medical school soon.
Like Diaz, each of the named students has a unique story. For Collis Brown, a nighttime toll-taker for the Massachusetts Turnpike, a chance meeting with University President William Bulger led to his return to college. Recognizing the president, Brown struck up a conversation. "He encouraged me to go back to college, to apply at UMass Boston." Brown now continues to work nights to support his two children. Active in his church and community, he was also named "Outstanding Future Professional" by the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.