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Ceremony recognizes outstanding Hispanic students


May 24, 2012

Arizona State University’s recent Hispanic Convocation ceremony graduated hundreds of students and recognized the achievements of two outstanding future leaders.

The ASU Hispanic Convocation was a tradition established by ASU Hispanic students more than a quarter-century ago and celebrates the accomplishments of ASU’s Hispanic graduates. This year’s event, which took place on May 5, 2012, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, saw approximately 265 students receive their degrees.

“Hispanic convocation is especially significant because it celebrates academic achievements in a festive, cultural environment shared with family and friends,” said Rhonda Carrillo, assistant director in the Office of Community Development.

Reyna Montoya was selected as the recipient of the Spring 2012 Jose Ronstadt Outstanding Undergraduate student award. Reyna received her Bachelor of Science in Transborder Chicana/o and Latina Studies and Political Science in the School of Transborder Studies. Throughout her time at ASU, Montoya has actively served the community through several organizations and leadership roles such as liaison for Students United For Fair Rights and Education. She also volunteers as an active member of The Dream Act Coalition and during the last election period was selected as its campaign manager. Reyna’s academic career was served with distinction, making the Dean’s List for 2.5 years while at ASU.

Rosalee Gonzalez, who received her doctorate in Justice and Social Inquiry in the School of Social Transformation, was the recipient of the Spring 2012 Ed Pastor Outstanding Graduate Award. She also has a master’s degree in International Social Welfare and Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in Chicana/o Studies from the University of California Berkeley. Leadership roles at ASU include involvement in M.E.Ch.a, a student organization that promotes higher education, culture and history and a member of the Graduate and Professional Student Association. Her involvement with the community includes the Association of Women in Development, Coalition Repeal SB1070 and the Continental Network of Indigenous Women.

ASU enrolled just over 72,000 students across its four campuses at the beginning of the fall 2011 semester. Of that total, 12,238 were Hispanic undergraduates and graduate students. Their achievements are supported by more than 1,300 Hispanic faculty and staff at the university.

For more information about ASU’s Hispanic Convocation, visit http://outreach.asu.edu/hispanicconvocation/home.