May 20, 2008
St. John’s University student Jessica Lazo (Elmhurst, NY) was
honored as a top finalist by New York Campus Compact (NYCC) for the
2008 Frank Newman Leadership Award, which cites those students who
have outstanding civic leadership, academic achievement and the
ability to create lasting change through civic action. Lazo was
submitted for national consideration among five national finalists
from New York.
And, although she did not receive one of two $5,000 awards from
NYCC announced on May 14, Lazo meets the criteria to a tee and
exhibits a true pride in her civic work and obligation to help
those who are less fortunate. A student of very high need herself,
Lazo has made the most of her opportunity to pursue a college
degree because of her mother Rosa’s persistence and an academic
profile that could not be overlooked by St. John’s University.
“I am very proud to be able to service the community,” said
Lazo. “I tell students that I work with that anything is possible
and you can reach the heights and your dreams if you are
dedicated.”
Lazo, will be entering her senior year in the fall and currently
holds a 3.45 grade point average, is a member of the President’s
Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and is working toward
a degree in Finance from the Peter J. Tobin College of Business.
She has been active volunteering her time with the L.EA.D.
(Leadership, Education and Development) Program, which is a
non-credit program of individual and group training, workshops and
overnight conferences dedicated to helping St. John's University
students interested in developing and enhancing their leadership
skills.
In addition, her curiosity and work ethic led her to the Ronald
H. Brown Summer Law Prep Program and a paid internship with the
Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit Court in Queens. She will be
prepping for the LSAT’s next year and has adopted a new minor
degree in Philosophy of Law.
“We developed a list of candidates that would be worthy to
recommend to Father Harrington for the Frank Newman Leadership
Award,” said Darren M. Morton, M.Ed., Assistant Vice President for
Student Affairs. “Jessica’s name kept coming up time and
again because of her academic standing, service learning activities
and commitment to our mission at St. John’s as well as her work
with student government.”
St. John’s President, Rev. Harrington,
C.M., cited Jessica’s impressive background and commitment to
the University Mission as key attributes for her nomination for the
award to the NYCC Selection Committee.
“Jessica has worked to enrich the collegiate experience of her
fellow students and has also actively been engaged in service to
the metropolitan New York City community of which St. John’s is a
part,” said Rev. Harrington, C.M.
The hectic schedule that Lazo keeps leaves her little time to
socialize but a University sponsored club called AIM (Asian
International Mentoring) has given Lazo a family atmosphere from
which to grow during her college years at St. John’s. She also
credits the mentoring of Rosa Yen, Associate Director of Leadership
Development and Multicultural Affairs, as a driving force in her
development at the University.
Fitting, Lazo will be the first in her family to graduate from
college and puts her learning experiences into perspective as she
laments about her time at St. John’s.
“My life has transformed at St. John’s University as it has been
led through service that has gravitated unexpected opportunities
for me to create a small difference in peoples’ lives,” said
Lazo.
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations at St. John’s University by calling
(718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
More information about St. John’s can be found by visiting the
University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.