President’s Excellence in Diversity and Equity Award Winners Named

Four individuals April 22 were presented with Texas Tech University’s 2008-2009 President’s Excellence in Diversity and Equity Awards.

Two students, a faculty member and a member of the Texas Tech staff received the awards for their individual efforts in promoting diversity and equity across the university during a 4 p.m. reception at the United Spirit Arena.

The Winners Are:

Faculty Award - Jaclyn Cañas, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology

Staff Award - Rosa Gallegos, director of student services, Whitacre College of Engineering

Undergraduate Award - Orlando Espino, junior international business major

Graduate Award - Serkan Balyimez, physics student from Turkey

The four winners were selected based on their efforts to make Texas Tech a welcoming campus through their commitment to service, mutual respect, academic and intellectual freedom and diversity. Awards were presented by President Guy Bailey and Juan Munoz, vice president of institutional diversity, equity and community engagement.

“It is important for us to recognize members of our Texas Tech family who are promoting diversity and equity on our campus,” Bailey said. “By their actions and interactions, conversations and involvement, they embody the diversity of opinion and dialogue on campus that is necessary to prepare students for today’s increasingly global marketplace.”

The faculty award brings a $2,500 research stipend. The staff recipient takes home $1,500 and one graduate student and one undergraduate student recipient each earn a $500 award.

A total of 67 individuals representing all facets of the university were nominated for the awards.

Photo Gallery

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Photos by Artie Limmer. *Note - Rosa Gallegos was unable to attend the event.