Two graduating social welfare majors were recognized at the 2018 UC Berkeley Chancellor's Awards for Public Service. This prestigious annual event celebrating Berkeley student and faculty service to their communities took place on April 30 at the International House.
Katie Cruz was the recipient of the Robert J. and Mary Catherine Birgeneau Recognition Award for Service to Underrepresented Students. Nominated by Berkeley Social Welfare Professor Kurt Organista, Cruz was honored for her work supporting the Latino community, especially youth, through her volunteer service as a health advocate in Oakland's La Clínica de La Raza. The award also recognizes her role as a Behavioral Pathways Mentor, providing underrepresented, first-generation and predominantly immigrant high-school students with lectures and workshops promoting higher education, as well as her efforts assisting Berkeley students access health services with the UC Health Care System.
Also receiving special honors at this year's Chancellor's Awards ceremony was the Cal Veterans Group, led by social welfare major Matthew Smith. The student military veterans were bestowed the Student Group Award for Civic Engagement for their tremendous response to the fires in Sonoma County. In addition to raising funds, collecting supplies and using their collective experience to help establish an emergency field hospital as well as sanitizing shelters to prevent viral disease outbreaks in response to the devastating fires, the group members volunteer their time to visit deported veterans, deliver supplies and raise funds to support military veterans' needs.
Photos: Keegan Houser
