The third annual College of Arts & Sciences Senior toast was held on Founder’s Day, April 12th in St. Mary’s Lounge. Hosted by the Dean of CAS and the Student Leadership Advisory Council, CAS faculty and graduating seniors gathered to celebrate the Class of 2018’s journey.
Among the acknowledgements was the announcement of the first Kay Toran CAS Student Award for Excellence in Service, created in honor of 1964 CAS alum Kay Toran. Toran has been continuously living a life of service; she currently serves on the UP Board of Regents and is president of Volunteers for America, a non-profit organization that supports men, women, and children in various stages of transition, including the homeless, from New York to Portland. Three CAS students received this honor, representing the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, respectively.
Dean Andrews made the following remarks in presenting the awards to the honorees:
Ana Fonseca is an English major who exudes a habit of service that challenges and changes structures within the local community here in North Portland. Whether working with Youth and the Law or the Portland Police organization, or the Mayor’s office, Ana had devoted many hundreds of hours serving youth, including as a tutor at Roosevelt High School. Ms. Fonseca epitomizes the kind of service towards structural change that reflects Kay Toran’s own passion. She will be joining Jesuit Volunteers Corps after graduation.
Gianna Carducci-Huchingson is a Psychology major who personifies a sense of service as mission, as envisioned by the Congregation of Holy Cross in which serving others means serving the compassionate Christ. In particular, Ms. Carducci has worked extensively with refugees from Congo, Ukraine, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan resettling in the City of Portland. Gianna is expecting to be placed next year with the Lutheran Community Services of as a director of Refugee Care Collective.
Noah Forrest is a Chemistry major who possesses a global and international sense of service that lovingly reflects Kate Regan’s own spirit. Mr. Forrest has worked extensively with issues from Rural Immersion in Yakima, WA; immigrant communities in Tucson, AR affected by harsh immigration policies; Friends of Trees here in Portland; and volunteers three hours every Friday with Spanish-speaking children in his capacity as a bilingual volunteer. Mr. Forrest was a Nicaraguan Immersion Coordinator for the Moreau Center and will be working with an organization called Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos at an orphanage in Latin America next year.
Dean Andrews also recognized two retiring faculty with respect and gratitude, Dr. Robert Butler, a professor of Environmental Science, and Fr. Tom Hosinki, professor of Theology. Graduating senior Ms. Jacqui Howard toasted Dr. Butler. Theology junior Mr. James Paul Gumataotao’s toasted Fr. Hosinki. Both men leave the UP community with contributions of outstanding service, scholarship, and a fantastic inspiration for knowledge.