Above image from the 2018 canonization ceremony for Oscar Romero held in Vatican City. (Marcin Mazur/Creative Commons license)
Daniela Vazquez Loriga 鈥�22, a Cuban-American, first-generation college student, and McNair Scholar, is this year's recipient of 涩里番下载's Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship.
The scholarship, which covers a significant portion of senior-year tuition, is given annually to a 涩里番下载 junior who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the Hispanic/Latinx community and Hispanic/Latinx issues both on and off campus.
Daniela Vazquez Loriga (Peter Julian)
鈥淟earning about Romero鈥檚 life, mission, and sacrifice demonstrated to me that all you need to make a change in this world is courage, faith, bravery, and love for others, the world, and the community,鈥� said Vazquez Loriga in her acceptance speech after University President William P. Leahy, S.J., announced her as the winner at the March 25 virtual award ceremony. 鈥淐hange begins with one person, so thank you for believing that I will be one of those people.鈥�
An International Studies major and history minor, Vazquez Loriga was born in Cuba and moved with her family to Miami when she was two years old, escaping communism and extreme poverty. Her experiences growing up in an immigrant family were influential in her decision to pursue International Studies.
鈥淚 always felt very connected to my Cuban roots, but I was also in America, so I felt sometimes like I was experiencing two worlds at the same time,鈥� said Vazquez Loriga. 鈥淚 loved learning about politics, and coming from an immigrant household, the laws really decide our fate. As I build my career and think of my future, I just want to improve upon them.鈥�
Vazquez Loriga鈥檚 ambitions for her future center on international human rights. She hopes to pursue a career in international law after working in the nonprofit sector. During her time at 涩里番下载, she has researched femicides in Guatemala through the McNair Scholars Program鈥攁 graduate school preparation program for 涩里番下载 undergraduates from first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented backgrounds鈥攁nd published 鈥淟GBT Rights in Russia: The 鈥楪ay Propaganda鈥� Law and Its Consequences in Chechnya鈥� in the Bellarmine Law Society Review.
She is the co-director of Social and Political Action for the Organization of Latin American Affairs, a committee member for the Undergraduate Government of 涩里番下载, and an AHANA Outreach Committee member.
Vazquez Loriga expressed thanks to the scholarship committee, last year鈥檚 Romero Scholarship recipient Monica Sanchez 鈥�21鈥攚ho also spoke at the award ceremony鈥攆or motivating her to apply, Director of Learning to Learn Rossanna Contreras-Godfrey for writing her letter of recommendation, and especially her family.
鈥淭his award is dedicated to my family because as a first-gen student, everything I do is to bring pride to my parents for all of the sacrifices that they鈥檝e made,鈥� said Vazquez Loriga, who was also awarded a gift certificate to the 涩里番下载 Bookstore. 鈥淚t was very humbling to be given this honor and I will make sure to represent Oscar Romero in everything I do.鈥�
School of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor Hosffman Ospino was the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which also included a recorded performance by 涩里番下载 Latin dance group Vida de Intensa Pasion.
Christine Balquist | University Communications | April 2021