Architecture Student Receives Community Service Award

Reprinted Courtesy K-State Media Relations and Marketing

Giving something back is getting a little recognition from a local bank honoring special people and groups at Kansas State University.

Community First National Bank partnered with K-State’s civic leadership program and the provost’s office to present four Inspired By Excellence Community Service Awards. The awards recognize the strong tradition of volunteerism at K-State and the time and talents students, faculty and staff have given to address critical needs in Manhattan and surrounding communities.

The awards also recognize the significant and lasting impact students, faculty and staff have made to campus and community organizations. Award recipients were selected for providing relevant and meaningful service and their awareness of community needs. Recipients also involve diverse populations and demonstrate exemplary commitment and innovative efforts.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in April of 2006. Award recipients were given a plaque, and Community First National Bank is donating money to service agencies selected by the recipients.

* This year’s student award went to Andrea Pardo, second-year student in architecture, Kansas City, KS. Pardo was recognized for her efforts to get the rights of marginalized citizens recognized. Her award donation will go to El Centro, a nonprofit group in Kansas City, KS, dedicated to creating sustainable opportunities for families.|

* The faculty award went to Michaeline Chance-Reay, assistant professor of secondary education. Chance-Reay was honored for using her expertise to improve the quality of life for temporary or prospective members of the community. Her award donation will go to the K-State First Ladies Scholarship for part-time, nontraditional K-State students.

* The staff award went to Sun C. Johnson, a custodial specialist at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Johnson was praised for her perseverance and determination. Her award donation will go to the First Assembly of God Church in Manhattan.

* The student group award went to K-State’s Creative Arts Therapy Students. The group was represented at the ceremony by Kareen King, graduate student in speech and club president, Osage City, and Martha Crouse, graduate student in speech and club secretary/treasurer, Morris, MN. The group allows students to experience firsthand how creative arts therapy can help people in need. The group’s award donation will support scholarships for its Super Summer Creative Arts Camp, which was created for adolescents with disabilities in Manhattan, Ogden and Wamego.

 

Following is the text of the nomination letter written on Andrea’s behalf by Anita Cortez, Director of K-State’s Developing Scholars Program.

March 15, 2006

Inspire by Example Selection Committee
K-State Community Service Program
8D Edwards Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506

Dear Inspire by Example Committee:

I am writing this letter on behalf of Andrea L. Pardo who is a sophomore at Kansas State University. I first met Andrea at the beginning of the Fall semester, 2004. Several people on campus, as well as Ian Bautista, CEO of El Centro in Kansas City, told me that she was a very

exceptional young student. Knowing that I am always looking for the exceptional students, they suggested I should make her acquaintance. I contacted Andrea and invited her to come see me. After meeting her, I was so impressed that I asked her to join my highly selective program, the Developing Scholars Program (DSP).

The DSP selects very bright, very talented, highly motivated young undergraduate students who are underrepresented (students of color or first generation) at the university. We match them with faculty research mentors, and they begin working on research in their field of study as early as their freshman year. Andrea was matched with two architecture faculty mentors, Madlen Simon and Susanne Siepl-Coates. Andrea works with them between six to ten hours a week on their SLIM DOWNtown redevelopment project. This project is assessing how changes to the downtown area of Manhattan, Kansas could contribute to an environment more conducive to walking and exercising among the residents. Andrea is learning a lot about envisioning, planning, and teamwork involved in such a project. Her faculty mentors write, “It has been delightful working with Andrea over the past year and a half. We look forward to continuing our work together this spring. Andrea is a good team contributor with excellent writing skills.”

For a young woman who has only been speaking English a few short years, and who is studying the field of architecture in her second language, Andrea is amazing. Andrea is amazing not only because she can make good grades at the university and balance a heavy load of coursework and research, but she finds time for other important activities as well. Andrea is actively involved in informing our communities statewide, as well as the state legislature, about the DREAM Act and working on behalf of those who are still waiting for opportunity to come their way.

The “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2005,” S. 2075, known as the DREAM Act, if enacted, would ensure the right to higher education for any student who excels academically and graduates from an American high school regardless of his/her immigration status. The DREAM Act keeps alive the potential of hard-working immigrant children to one day realize our ideal—the American Dream. Andrea is outspoken on behalf of immigrant students. Although she herself could suffer the consequences of speaking out, she nevertheless stands up. Andrea is civic-minded. She is not simply trying to improve her own lot in life; she wishes to impact the future of others who are struggling to find a foothold. She once told me that while she wanted to become an architect, she wasn’t pursuing it for herself; rather, she was pursuing higher education in order to show others that it could be done. This is why Andrea participated in the making of a video about the DREAM Act. She wanted to reach beyond those she knew personally; she wanted to reach out across the state and offer a hand up.

Andrea is in a very demanding curriculum here at the university, yet she maintains an impressive grade point average and finds time to work on the SLIM DOWNtown project and the DREAM Act legislation. Andrea travels regularly to Topeka where she participates in rallies and speaks directly with legislators to help inform them of the positive impact of educating all who live in Kansas and want so badly to contribute to their communities. Additionally, Andrea has just agreed to serve on a newly formed committee of concerned citizens who are working to establish a scholarship fund for immigrant education here at Kansas State University.

When President George Bush visited Manhattan earlier this semester, Andrea stood in line to get her student ticket to attend his lecture. After the lecture, Andrea stood in line to ask a question at the microphones. Unfortunately, just as she came to the front of the line, the President quit taking questions. As President Bush left the stage, Andrea called out, “Mr. President!” The President of the United States, land of the American Dream, heard her and came to shake her hand. As she shook the hand of the most powerful man in the world, she had the presence of mind to press the letter she had written to him into his hand. The Secret Service started to intervene, but the President told them it was okay. He took Andrea’s letter and put it in his shirt pocket.

She has no way of knowing whether he personally read the letter or not, but she did get a reply from an assistant. Attached is a copy of the letter that Andrea handed to the President of the United States. Also attached is an article on immigrant student access to education; the young woman you see shaking the hand of the Governor of Kansas is Andrea Pardo. Andrea is tireless and truly exceptional. Indeed, I have heard her referred to as a young, latina Rosa Parks! I can think of no one at Kansas State University more courageous, more selfless, or more inspiring than Andrea Pardo as she fights for the rights of the marginalized to contribute to their communities by maximizing their own intellectual potential.

Respectfully,

Anita Cortez
Director, Developing Scholars Program