JUNIOR EARNS SCHOLARSHIP FROM ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA Erika Viva-Ramos, a junior criminal justice and social justice major from Louisville, dreams of positively impacting her community through public service. Nearing the finish line of her degree, her dedication has begun to pay off; she recently earned the prestigious Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship from honor society Alpha Lambda Delta. The Trow Scholarship was started in 1988, in honor of a past national president of Alpha Lambda Delta. Viva-Ramos is one of 25 awardees to receive the Trow Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, and one of 50 nationally, amid a record-breaking number of applicants. Viva-Ramos’ first encounter with EKU came two years before coming to campus as a freshman, when she enrolled in Foster Music Camp as a cellist her junior year of high school. It didn’t take long for her to feel that she was exactly where she needed to be. Now as an EKU student, Viva-Ramos has maintained an active presence on campus, joining Alpha Lambda Delta, serving in several campus positions and getting involved in student organizations. Her impressive
focused on my studies and help me become more involved on campus,” Viva-Ramos said.
extracurricular resume is made possible in part by the Trow Scholarship,
Upon graduation, Viva-Ramos hopes to return to Louisville to serve
along with the Dr. Rodney Gross Scholarship and the Heather Bailey
as a judge, lawyer or homicide detective, and make a difference in
Scholarship. “These scholarships have helped me become extremely
her community.
EKU RECEIVES FIRST-GEN FORWARD DESIGNATION EKU is widely known as a school of opportunity with extensive resources for first-generation students. As a result of those efforts, the University was recently named a First-gen Forward Institution by the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and The Suder Foundation. The First-gen Forward designation recognizes institutions of higher education who have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students. Selected institutions receive professional development, community-building experiences and a first look at the Center’s research and resources. EKU offers several programs to serve first-generation students, such as NOVA Student Support Services, the Ronald McNair Scholars Program, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, the Trailblazer Scholarship and the First Colonels Living Learning Community. The University also hosted the state’s first-ever conference focused on first-generation student success in November, the Gen 1 Conference, and maintains a Gen 1 task force targeting policies and processes that present barriers to first-generation students. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn from and alongside other institutions with a focus similar to ours,” said Gil Hunter, executive director of retention and graduation. “This recognition is consistent with our mission and attributable to our student-first support.”
EKU MAGAZINE 5