Kara Taylor and Rosa Varela will be graduating from Eastern this spring and on April 22 they, along with other soon-to-be graduates were recognized for their achievements during their college careers.

Taylor, a senior psychology major, was awarded the Ona Norton scholarship. The award is eligible only to an African American student who has achieved at least a 3.5 GPA and who has rendered significant service to the university and/or the Charleston community. Taylor made herself eligible for the award by achieving a 3.74 cumulative GPA.

“I do well in my classes, but I never thought that I would get an award for doing well in them,” Taylor said. “It’s something that I really work hard to do so to be recognized for it is rewarding.”

Varela received the Peer Tutor of the Year award, which she said she was very honored by.

“I didn’t even know that I was going to get an award for it,” she said. “It’s good to know that people recognize your hard work and that you’re doing something good.”

Varela, Foreign Language major, is a Spanish tutor for the TRiO program and spends an average of five hours per week tutoring students that come to TRiO for help. She also received the Minority Affairs Peer Leader award and an award for being a TRiO ambassador.

As a peer leader, Varela helped two freshman and one transfer student get acquainted to the campus. She said that she was able to help the students with some things that students may not be aware of when they first arrive on campus, like locating other places that may be helpful to them, like the Writing Center.

Taylor has also done extracurricular work to get herself ready for the career that she plans on pursuing. She has been involved in ICCS Teen Reach under the Minority Internship Program and has also done community service projects as part of campus organizations.

“When I was in high school I looked for someone similar to that (social worker) and I couldn’t find one,” Taylor said. “I decided that I wanted to be the person that I couldn’t find all those years ago.”

She says that this event impacted her life and career goals greatly.

“Had I not been searching for someone, it probably wouldn’t be as much of a passion,” Taylor said. “I don’t think I would have realized how important it is.”

After graduation, the two women have different plans for their futures. Taylor will be attending Washington University in Saint Louis to pursue a graduate degree in the social work program.

Varela’s plans are to find a job and resuming her education later so she may pursue a master’s degree.

Spenser Nobles can be reached at 581-7942 or at swnobles@eiu.edu.

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, shakes hands with senior psychology major Kara Taylor. Taylor received a scholarship. (Courtesy Photo)

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