Individuals Honored for Work With Diversity
Five individuals will be presented with the USU Diversity Award for their dedication and contributions to diversity Friday in the Sunburst Lounge.
The award recognizes individuals on campus and in communities served by USU who have made significant contributions to affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity.
“I didn’t do it to get an award or anything,” award recipient in the student category Ariel Rosario said of his work in diversity. “It’s just my personality. I like to be surrounded by different people.”
Rosario has received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and said he is currently working toward his master’s in business administration. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Rosario was nominated for the USU Diversity Award because of his interest in getting to know other people while supporting his Dominican background. In order to learn more about the American culture, Rosario requested that his roommate be American. Rosario also organized the Dominican Student Association at USU.
Dr. John Ribera, associate professor in the communicative disorders and deaf education department, will be receiving the faculty award for his dedication to introducing students to cultural diversity and aiding those in need.
In order to provide health care to those in Mexico who can’t afford it, Ribera began taking audiology graduate students to administer hearing tests, do research and hand out hearing aids. Ribera said the idea to work with the residents of Mexico was first brought up by his daughter who lives in California and was interested in helping orphanages in Mexico. He asked her if they had received hearing tests, and upon learning they had not, he got a group of students together and spent a day in Mexico providing tests for free. Ribera said the best thing about it has been providing a much-needed service and exposing students to a different culture.
“The people there don’t have access to health coverage, and so they’re very appreciative,” Ribera said. “They will spend eight hours in the waiting room and not complain.”
Ribera is also responsible for conducting an annual production of “Handel’s Messiah,” which is simultaneously performed in English, Spanish and sign language interpretation. Ribera said he has always been involved in music and wanted to find a way to involve and unify the entire community.
“There are so many things that divide us,” Ribera said,”but there is more that unites us, and music is that bridge.”
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, Ribera said.
Hector Mendiola, an extension educator and director of Spanish Programs for Cache County Extension, will also be receiving an award in the faculty category for his work with Logan High School students and families.
Mendiola, a retired pediatrician from Mexico City, works with Mexican immigrants to help them learn English. Mendiola also introduced the Computer Assisted Language For Non English Speakers program in order to help those who wanted to learn English.
Also being honored are Vice Provost Steven Hanks for his work with international and Study Abroad students, and Kelly Johnson, training coordinator at Swift Beef Corporation in Hyrum, for his efforts to support and assist families who were impacted by an immigration raid last December.
-amanda.m@aggiemail.usu.edu