Mariana Serrano
  • Health Sciences
  • Class of 2018
  • Waterbury, CT

Eastern Student Mariana Serrano Wins Martin Luther King Award

2018 Mar 15

Eastern student Mariana Serrano '18 of Waterbury was one of three award recipients at the annual Martin Luther King Distinguished Service Awards ceremony at Eastern Connecticut State University on Feb. 28. Serrano majors in Health Sciences with a minor in Anthropology.

Serrano is a student ambassador to Eastern's Intercultural Center in the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing of the Student Center. One of her favorite quotes by Dr. King is "Life's persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

Serrano mentors minority students in high school and college, implementing leadership, cultural awareness and inclusive programming. After completing her undergraduate degree, Serrano plans to attend medical school and wants her legacy to be one of educating and inspiring people from marginalized communities of the importance of social justice and helping them to accomplish their dreams.

Other MLK award winners at this year's ceremony included Eastern sociology professor William Lugo and Bill Stover, director of Family and Community Partnerships in Windham Public Schools.

Bishop John Selders Jr., pastor of Amistad United Church of Christ in Hartford and associate college chaplain at Trinity College, delivered the keynote address. A frequent lecturer on the subjects of race, oppression and reproductive justice, Selders said, "While Dr. King is certainly among the greatest of orators this nation has gifted to the world, the more evolved, more mature Dr. King gets far too little attention. Dr. King also said America was a very sick society, where people of color with skills and character could not get jobs.

"That is the radical Dr. King people don't want to talk about. The challenge I leave with you is what will each of you do for the cause of justice today? What will your life be about? Will it all be about 'The Benjamins' (money), or will your life be about something rooted deeper than money? Will you ask, like Dr. King, what can I do to better my community and the world?"