Veronica Fernandez-Diaz '19 recently received a Newman Civic Fellowship, an award that recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.

The one-year fellowship supports students in their personal, professional, and civic growth as the next generation of public problem solvers, as it provides training and resources that nurture students' assets and passions to help them develop strategies to achieve social change.

Fernandez-Diaz is a civic leader committed to building a more equitable and inclusive society. She acts as an unwavering advocate for marginalized communities, engaging in immigration reform efforts both locally and nationally.

A sociology major at Colorado College, she seeks to create opportunities for students to learn about and engage with immigrants in detention facilities across the country.

Additionally, she has worked to broaden support for first-generation and DACA students in the Office of Admissions, served as a leader of the Colorado Springs Dream Team, and participated in organizing training in Washington, D.C., with United We Dream and the Catholic Immigration Network. Fernandez-Diaz is on track to complete CC's three-year Community Engaged Leadership Certificate Program, demonstrating her long-term commitment to civic leadership.

This year's class of Newman Civic fellows is made up of 268 community-committed students. They are selected in the spring, with the fellowship beginning the following academic year.