Students recognized for engaged work in the Latino community

January 6, 2023

Two groups of Notre Dame undergraduate students are being recognized for their community work combined with academic performance.  

Each year, the Spanish Community-Based Learning (CBL) program nominates students for the Indiana chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (IN-AATSP) “Outstanding College Student of Spanish.” In addition to maintaining high academic standards (minimum GPA 3.7 and all A’s in Spanish classes), nominated students must participate in community work, undergraduate research, and/or extracurriculars where they use Spanish skills and cultural knowledge.

This year Alena Coleman, Margaret McGreevy, Madeline Soiney, and Shannon Steines join twenty-one previous ND recipients. Their community work included center programs like the Summer Service Learning Program and seminars, Spanish CBL classes, community service, and internships. They collaborated on materials used in schools in South Bend, Chicago, and Los Angeles, a medical clinic in Florida, and a residential center in Paine, Chile. They were also involved in campus activities with the Student Coalition for Immigration Advocacy, and community organizations in South Bend, nationally, and internationally. All four students were recognized by IN-AATSP in a ceremony on April 27, 2022.

Romance Languages and Literatures will recognize the second group. Seniors that receive service awards must have studied Spanish at Notre Dame and maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA. This year Alena Coleman was awarded the Mara Fox Award for contributing outstanding service to the Hispanic community; Madeline Soiney was awarded the Jose Tito Siguenza Award for contributing outstanding service to Hispanic youth; Stella Cho and Clare Wieland won the Albert LeMay Award for a senior who studied in Puebla, Mexico and used Spanish language to serve community (although last year study in Puebla was not permitted due to COVID-19); Lorena Morejón Lasso won the Carlos Aballi Award for demonstrating pride in her Hispanic culture and giving significant service to the Hispanic community.

The seven awardees did more than 5,000 hours of community engagement in South Bend, nationally, and internationally. They completed more than a dozen Spanish CBL classes, multiple center programs; did research either on their own or as assistants in Latino communities and Latin America; worked with Spanish CBL’s key partners–La Casa de Amistad, El Campito, Holy Cross School, and Sr. Maura Brannick Clinic–along with other local organizations; and their work involved translation, class projects, and educational and cultural outreach for community organizations.