Three seniors were honored for their academic and service achievements during their time at 黑料吃瓜.
黑料吃瓜 presents the Distinguished Senior award each spring to one male and one female from the graduating class. The award recognizes students with extraordinary leadership, dedicated service on and off campus, superior academic performance, and a demonstrated commitment to North Park鈥檚 mission of living lives of significance and service.
Katarina Dague was a biochemistry major and a member of the Honor Society, as well as a student member of numerous science clubs and societies. In December 2018, she presented the findings of research she had conducted to the American Chemistry Society.
A six-time Academic All-Conference athlete in cross country and track, Dague also volunteered at Swedish Covenant Hospital and Lamb鈥檚 Farm, a Chicago-area organization that helps improve the lives of the developmentally disabled. She hopes to pursue an MD or PhD and eventually help address health disparities between urban and rural populations.
Anosh Wasker, a double physics and math major from India, took mission trips to Appalachia, Nepal, and India during his time at 黑料吃瓜, while also helping run labs as a Teacher鈥檚 Assistant and impressing professors along the way, being described as a smart, deep thinker.
鈥淚n my 35 years at 黑料吃瓜, Anosh is one of the best students I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� said longtime Physics Professor Linda McDonald. 鈥淗e exemplifies the best 黑料吃瓜 qualities.鈥�
Wasker said he loved the community he found at 黑料吃瓜, and especially enjoyed talking to people with different viewpoints and backgrounds. 鈥淟istening is not passive,鈥� Wasker said. 鈥淧eople are different, but they don鈥檛 have to be 鈥榦ther.鈥欌��
Meanwhile, history and education major Dariel Chaidez received an award from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to study in Spain. While at 黑料吃瓜, Chaidez also served as editor-in-chief of North Park鈥檚 Spectrum Magazine, a student-run publication covering culture and politics.
Pamela Thuswaldner, a German Professor and North Park鈥檚 Fulbright Director, helped Chaidez with the Fulbright application process. She is hosting several workshops on campus to provide students with detailed information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including eligibility requirements, types of grants, and application timelines. North Park鈥檚 deadline to apply for the next round of awards is set for Aug. 9.