Published: May 10, 2008 04:47 pm         

Two receive President’s Award for Civic and Community Leadership

TERRE HAUTE — Nicole Royer and Gloria Diaz are recipients of the 2008 President's Award for Civic and Community Leadership at Indiana State University.

Royer, a senior marketing major from Brazil, saw firsthand the difference of public service by working with the United Way of the Wabash Valley. She completed a three-month internship with the organization for college credit, but stayed on as a volunteer because she enjoyed the experience and the people.

While serving as an intern with United Way, she was involved in numerous events such as Campaign Appreciation and Recognition Event, pilot campaign kickoff, Clabber Girl Brickyard BBQ, campaign kickoff, Days of Caring and was in charge of the silent auction at Abbondanza. In addition to events, she helped design operations manuals for the United Way.

In her involvement with the ISU chapter of the American Marketing Association, she participated in the chapter’s annual Christmas party for low-income elementary school students. A pole vaulter and a four-year member of ISU’s track and field team, she organized a fundraising event to raise money for a trip to National Pole Vault Summit to meet and learn from elite pole vaulters across the nation.

Diaz, a senior interior design major and a native of Guatemala, has been active in the Hispanic Student Association and providing others insight into the Spanish culture.

She has occupied offices of vice president and secretary in the organization since fall 2006 and has organized the annual Hispanic Global Night for the past two years. Through the Hispanic Student organization, she organized an event to raise funds for earthquake victims in Peru. Diaz represented ISU at the 2007 Fiesta in Indianapolis, a yearly event that commemorates the independence of Mexico and Central America.

Diaz served as a bilingual volunteer at this year’s Ethnic Health Summit and stepped in at the last minute to substitute for a presenter who had taken ill by teaching a mini salsa/meringue lesson.

She participated in a Mission Trip to Honduras with St. Joseph University Parish, where she volunteered as a translator for teachers and students. While in Honduras, she delivered a donation that the Hispanic Student Association makes each year to fund the education of a child in the country.

Also recognized during ceremonies were Karen Harding, Community Alliance and Services for Young Children; Marvin Brethauer, Indianapolis Airport Authority; and Michael Furnish, Special Olympics Indiana as Community Partner Award winners. ISU professor Charles Norman and Mary Ann Clark of Hamilton Center’s Spectrum Industries were named Outstanding Service Award winners.