Unanue Latino Institute Celebrates Class of 2020  

The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute proudly celebrates the accomplishments of its 2020 graduating scholarship cohort. The Unanue Scholars represent the mission of the Unanue Institute, which aims to advance, educate and transform students into the next generation of servant leaders. The Institute encourages its students to be active members of their community, obtain on-campus leadership roles and embrace Latin America's rich culture and history. Throughout their undergraduate studies, each student has been involved with the Institute through its scholarship program, on/off campus events and professional development workshops. 

The Institute team congratulates and thanks these dedicated scholars and looks forward to their future triumphs: Sara Agudelo, Kimberly Churampi, Maylin Rivera, Carolina Holguin, Jacqueline Caputo, Jasmin Moreno Monsalve, Alex Esquivel, Afra Goncuoglu, Gabriela Fernandez Velez. 

The following profiles highlights select students of "Clase del 2020" and reflects their academic and professional accomplishments during their time at Seton Hall University:

Jacqualine Caputo
Major: Social and Behavioral Sciences (Occupational Therapy Dual Degree Program)
Minor: Social Work 
Leadership Positions: Multicultural Advisory Committee: Vice President of Programming and Events, Vice President of Finance and Outreach; Know More: Certified Peer Educator and Facilitator; Global Medical Brigade: Scholarship Chair; Student Occupational Therapy Association; Student Government Association:  Ad Hoc; Odyssey Online: Writer
Academic Achievement: Deans List recipient 2016-2019, University Scholarship, Vincent Lizzi scholarship, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key recipient
What's Next: Pursing Master's in Occupational Therapy at Seton Hall Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus
Latino Institute Impact: "I'm so grateful for the Latino Institute for taking pressure off of my family and I financially, providing me with mentors to look up to, and giving me the opportunity to meet great friends who inspired me to achieve more."
Jacqueline's Dream Goal: "Create and own multiple businesses where I am able to provide for and support my family. Also, to create a non- profit organization to help support kids from neighborhoods like my own to go to college and pursue their dreams."

Kimberly Churampi
Major: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Minor: Psychology; Social Work
Academic Achievement: Pirate Achievement Award, Magna Cum Laude, Dean's List, Joseph & Carmen Ana Unanue Scholarship 
What's Next: Pursing Master's in Occupational Therapy at Seton Hall Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus
Latino Institute Impact: "Being a Scholar at the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute has been a blessing for me during these last two years. This organization has helped me learn more about myself in terms of my strengths and goals. I feel that the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute has brought me closer to my culture and it has inspired me to go out into the world and do my part for the Latino community."
Kimberly's Dream Goal: "…visit all the eight wonders of the world!"

Axel Esquivel
Major: Diplomacy & International Relations
Leadership Positions: Student Government Association- Former Senator at-large; Former Chair of Finance Committee; Former Senate Leadership
Academic Achievement: Introduction speech for Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver at bill signing; Annual Golden Tier Community Service Award from The White House; MLKSA Scholars Program; Dean's List; HESAA Student Advisory Board; Co-Chair of Operation X; Italian Department Scholarship; 1st Class of Student Alliance
What's Next: Find a job, pay down loans and get an MBA!
Latino Institute Impact: "The Latino Institute demonstrated the importance in holding pride and honor for my heritage, and that there is a community of Latino leaders out there with open arms. I always found welcoming smiles and fresh coffee in the office; it was my go-to place between classes. People literally speaking my language that was my age and NOT family, I never had that available to me before."
Axel's Fun Fact: "…I was an intern at the Permanent Mission of El Salvador at the United Nations as a freshman and I speak three languages, hoping to learn more."

Gabriela Fernandez Velez
Major: Diplomacy and International Relations
Minor: Economics; Latin America Latino/a Studies
Leadership Positions: President, Adelante; Vice President of Campus Relationships, Women in Diplomacy Leadership Program; Member, Diversity and Inclusion Alliance
Gabriela's Internships: Robert Menendez Congressional Internship; Opening Doors Internship Scholarship; Intern, The Tinker Institute; IGNITE National Intern
What's Next: Master's Degree and a Juris Doctor (JD)
Latino Institute Impact: "The Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute has been the best thing that happened to me in my college career. It has given me the support to become a leader on campus, achieve internships, and has given me life mentors. JAULI was a safe space as well as a support system, I hope every Latino student that comes to SHU experiences what I did with the Latino Institute." 

Afra Goncuoglu
Major: Diplomacy and International Relations; Economics
Minor: Spanish
Leadership Positions: School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Student Ambassador; Women of Diplomacy Leadership Program, VP Programming; Undergraduate Diplomacy Student Association. VP Finance; Alpha Omicron Pi – Gamma Phi Chapter, Member-at-Large  
Academic Achievement: Pirate Achievement Award, Magna Cum Laude, Dean's List, Joseph & Carmen Ana Unanue Scholarship; Nivah Odwori Scholarship; Salgo-Noren Foundation Scholarship 
Latino Institute Impact: "My great sympathy towards the Latino people, culture and language made me want to become a part of the Latino Institute on campus. Working at the Institute has given me priceless experiences that positively impacted my life.  I have acknowledged the power of diversity wherever I go! I have gained career-related experiences and acquired valuable skill sets that will attribute to my post-graduation success. I am forever grateful for the Institute for accepting me as who I am."

Carolina Holguin
Major: Elementary Special Education; Speech Language Pathology
Minor: English
Leadership Positions: Ambassador, College of Education and Human Services; Student Editor, Locus: The Seton Hall Undergraduate Research Journal; Treasurer, American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Club; Events Coordinator, National Student Speech Language Hearing Association; Educational Opportunity Program, Scholar  
Academic Achievement: National Society of Collegiate Scholars; New Jersey State Education Association; Epsilon Omega Psi Honor Society; Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education; Dean's List 
What's Next: Seton Hall's Speech Language Pathology Master's degree program and hopefully work in early intervention in the future!
Latino Institute Impact: "The Latino Institute helped me find a place with people I could easily relate to and with the scholarship, certain financial struggles diminished, letting me focus on the most important and essential part of school which is learning."

Categories: Arts and Culture, Campus Life