On November 21, 2015, Zaida Velazco ’17, received the Association of College Unions Internal (ACUI) Region VIII College Union and Campus Life Role Model Award at the Region VIII Conference in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The award honors Zaida’s commitment to the campus community and her involvement on campus as a student leader and role model for others. Her advisor, Erin Morrell, associate dean for campus activities & orientation, nominated her.
The College Union and Campus Life Role Model Award is presented to a student who best exemplifies outstanding achievement in the college union/student activities field and the ideals of “The Role of the College Union.” She models the way and sets an example for other students to emulate. Her initiative and positive spirit in conjunction with her dedication and leadership skills are some of the reasons she received the award.
According to the nomination letter, her advisor wrote: “Zaida has a great attitude that is contagious to those around her. She can always put a smile on your face or make you laugh. She is a very hard worker, extremely diligent and takes pride in the things that she does. The best word that I can use to describe Zaida is humble. She also has a great work ethic and is extremely reliable and conscientious in her leadership roles. She has learned some new communication skills that have strengthened her abilities, but also have created meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and students on campus. She is well liked by her peers and respected by all. In fact, this past spring, she was chosen by the student body as the Positive Community Member of the Year. To me, that says everything about who Zaida is and who she will continue to be as a student leader and role model for others.”
Zaida is an integral part of the Albertus Magnus College community, serving as vice president of the Student Government Association, a Resident Assistant, a Student Orientation Counselor, a member of the Student Alumni Association and as a student athlete on the Albertus women’s tennis team. Zaida is a promotional communications major with a minor in graphic design and will be using her talents this Spring as the student photographer for athletics. She hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.