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(Welcome in Spanish by Blanca Jimenez)

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Once again, good evening everyone. We'd like to welcome you 

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to the 2021 Diversity Scholars Recognition Dinner.  

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My name is Gheraldy Bobadila-Cruz and tonight

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accompanied by Blanca Jimenez. Together we will be your MC's for tonight. 

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Diversity adds strength to our university. 

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It's something that we strive for mightly. 

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We also are striving to become a Hispanic serving institution. 

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And I hope we will make progress in that regard. We're very close.

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We're already designated as an emerging HSI.

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And hopefully we'll be able to fully achieve that in the next year or so. 

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This is really important that we recognize you in this event.

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And I know some of you came last year

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and I'm sorry we weren't able to host a dinner in your honor.  

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But I'm glad you're here this year. 

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The other thing I wanted you to know is thanks to the work of 

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some of our great students, Blanca and Mekena, Makana - pardon me 

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and Arlette and other members, Devon and others,

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we now have a Freedom Center on the 2nd floor of this building. 

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Although public speaking is one of the few things that brings my anxiety through the roof,

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I accepted this invitation. 

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I accepted the invitation because I know this is a way to give back to the WOU community

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and to my fellow diversity scholars. 

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I also know that I have faced many challenges in my

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education and life to be where I'm at today. 

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And for that I believe my story deserves to be heard. 

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And one day, yours will also be heard. 

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If I had to give you one advice, I would advise this... 

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do not hold back. 

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Do not hold back for anyone or anything. 

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Live the present moment. 

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Live those life experiences that come your way. 

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Take on those experiences and opportunities in life 

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that will later define who you will become as a parent...

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as an adult, sorry I'm a parent, too.  

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Lastly, I want to congratulate you all for your accomplishments

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and for having chosen WOU to be the university

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that will allow you to further your education 

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and become that professional you all inspire to be. 

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S' se puede. 

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Respect, attentiveness and humility. 

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These were the important values my father instilled in me before I left Mexico. 

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These are the same values that have allowed me to meet and engage with others. 

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I am now 19-years-old and I am grateful to say that because of the help, 

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guidance and support from other teachers, mentors and those who have believed in me,

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I have developed the necessary skills to serve as an influential leader in my community. 

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Now, as a college student, I plan to continue

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my dream career as a bi-lingual clinical psychologist

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in order to reserve my, in order serve and aid

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the diverse community from which we are part of. 

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Diversity is about exploring and understanding our diffferences

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while celebrating the rich cultures of each individual. 

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We are diversity. Thank you. (applause)

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One of my colleagues and dearest friend, called this year 

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a year of transition, a year of change. 

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While we're all transitioning and changing so many aspects of our life,

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one thing that should continue the same is to embrace the diversity 

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you all bring to this campus and to our WOU community. 

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Scholars, I'll be calling each one of you to receive your certificate of recognition. 

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There you have it. The 2021-22 Diversity Scholar recipients.  

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Please give them a round of applause. (applause)

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Go Wolves!