Sierra Colon of Wethersfield Wins Eastern Connecticut State University's Cesar Chavez Award

2017 May 10

Eastern Connecticut State University recently announced the student awardee for the Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes individuals who best exemplify the teachings of Chavez, the late labor leader and human rights activist who advocated for fairness, equity and justice for farm workers. The award also recognizes individuals who have performed extraordinary service in support of the Latin American community by developing, contributing to programs/activities focusing on positive development of minority youth and/or minority educational opportunities and advancement.

Sierra Colon '17 of Wethersfield was the student awardee for 2017. Colon's major is Political Science.

The award is also presented to a community member and an Eastern staff or faculty member.

Eastern President Elsa M. Nunez said, "I think Mr. Chavez would look at our award recipients and see three people who focus their time on meeting the needs of others. Sierra has demonstrated exemplary leadership in service to the Latin American community, the Eastern campus and the community-at-large. She reminds us of our responsibility to serve others so that everyone may share in the American Dream."

In addition to serving as president of the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), Colon has been a resident assistant in High Rise Residence Hall and has also served as a student orientation counselor, peer mentor and tutor for elementary students in Willimantic. Last summer, she was awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship which allowed her to complete an internship in Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked on agriculture reform and social justice issues.

Colon has also secured an internship with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and she has advocated for affordable tuition at college appropriations meetings hosted by state representatives. Graduating with honors, Colon plans to attend graduate school to focus on higher education and policy reform.