Taking Care of Business

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), Student Support Services (SSS, TRIO) and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion welcomes you to the 32nd Annual Taking Care of Business Celebration. This program celebrates the academic success and student leadership contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The spirit of the annual Taking Care of Business program is to celebrate multicultural students as you have contributed to UW-Parkside and honoring the university’s mission.
While these are unchartered times and not circumstances we would prefer, we appreciate your ability to be nimble and make the necessary adjustments to maintain your commitment as students, leaders, and graduates. This is a unique time during your academic journey and a unique approach to this celebration for our respective offices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, your ability to adjust and participate in this virtual celebration through these difficult times is applauded.
Again, I welcome you to the 32nd annual Taking Care of Business Celebration and I would be remissed if I did not request for you to join me in thanking my colleagues, listed below.
Damian Evans
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of OMSA
Luis Benevoglienti
Assistant Director of OMSA
April Puryear
Program Associate
Colette Bell
Coordinator for Retention Programs
Amanda Markwardt
Coordinator for Retention Programs
Dr. Chris Zanowski
Director
Alfredo Sandoval-Flores
Advisor
Marie Smith
Advisor
Desarae Saffold
Program Assistant
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Sheronda Glass
Academic Recognitions
3.0-3.49 GPA
Ethan Abanero |
Rich Eads |
Sengyeng Kue |
Tatiana Ripp |
3.5-3.89 GPA
Asmaa Abdel-Fattah |
Mykayla Evans |
Sam Lail |
Ma. Mira Ramirez |
3.9-4.0 GPA
Adeoluwa Akinniyi |
Alana Hughes |
Courtney McFeters |
Matteo Quintero |
Leadership and Involvement Awards
Accounting Club
Chelsea Bivens, Treasurer
Active Minds
Gabriana Sandoval, President
Brandon Sun, Vice President
Advising & Career Center
Crystal Egbo, Career Ambassador
Adama Bah, Career Ambassador
African Student Association
Faith Adekunle, President
Comfort Saliu, Vice President
Kimberley Mvetimbo Tambo, Secretary
Omodolapo Giwa-Darammola, Treasurer
Black Student Union
Tavyonia Davis, President
Zachary Atkins, Vice President
Kelly Birmingham, Treasurer
Crystal Egbo, Secretary
Aniyah Miller, Social Media/Marketer
Kristen Birmingham, Programing Chair
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dasia Brown, President
Tekeyia Bell, Secretary
Tekeyia Bell, Treasurer
Fund for Wisconsin Scholars
Anahi Cruz, Mentor
JaMarie Edwards, Mentor
Latinos Unidos
Alfredo Monroy, President
Absolon Reyes, Vice President
Norma Acuna-Cruz, Vice President
Esmeralda Aguilar, Event Coordinator
Alisson Anguiano, Secretary
Jose Garcia, Treasurer
Julio Hernandez, Event Coordinator
Michael Cooper, Member at Large
Raylene Gonzalez, Fundraising Chair
LULAC Council 354
Yoger Aguilar, President
Jaileen Gonzalez, Vice President
Carlos Dorantes, Treasurer
Aaliyah Escamilla, Secretary
Julio Hernandez, Sergeant at Arms
Iker Soto, Women's Issues Chair
Danny Bautista, Economic Empowerment Chair
Brandon Ruiz, Immigration Chair
Omar Moreno, Education Chair
Muslim Student Association
Geny Museitef, President
Mohamed Mohamud, Vice President
Amar Joseph, Treasurer
Naima Isse, Public Relations
Office of Admissions and New Students Services
Caroline Greene, Orientation Leader
Seania Avery, Orientation Leader
Shania Weaver, Orientation Leader
Faith Flores, Orientation Leader
Office of Multicultural Student Affairs
Nikayla Adams, ARU Success Coach
Zachary Atkins, ARU Success Coach
Kelly Birmingham, ARU Success Coach
Kristen Birmingham, ARU Success Coach
Chelsea Bivens, ARU Success Coach
Maria Castillo Venegas, ARU Success Coach
Tavyonia Davis, ARU Success Coach
Zing Nun Dim, ARU Success Coach
Crystal Egbo, ARU Success Coach
Cahliah Harris, ARU Success Coach
Julio Hernandez, ARU Success Coach
Keontre McDade, ARU Success Coach
Aniyah Miller, ARU Success Coach
Georgia Mitchell, ARU Success Coach
Kimberley Mvetimbo Tambo, ARU Success Coach
Raelea Palacios, ARU Success Coach
Bryanna Perez, ARU Success Coach
Jada Peters, ARU Success Coach
Sandra Quello, ARU Success Coach
Dariana Stewart, ARU Success Coach
Jessica Huang, ARU Communication Coordinator
Jada Peters, Peer Advisor
Yoger Aguilar, Peer Advisor
Brandon Sun, Peer Advisor
Zing Nun Dim, Peer Advisor
Zachary Atkins, Peer Advisor
Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Danny Bautista, President
Julio Hernandez, Vice President
Paulo Dleon Rodriguez, Treasurer
Jose Garcia, Secretary
Ivan Garcia, Event Coordinator
Yoger Aguilar, Fundraiser Chair
Michael Cooper, Academic Chair
Julio Hernandez, Social Chair
Julio Hernandez, Rush Chair
Carlos Dorantes, Community Service Chair
Julio Hernandez, Prospective Member Educator
Miguel Nuno, Assistant Prospective Member Educator
Brandon Ruiz, Sergeant at Arms
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Donavan Cole, President
Lee Langham, Vice President
Parkside Asian Organization
Jessica Huang, President
Preston Vang, Member at Large
Mereesa Valera, Secretary
Angel Millan, Marketing Coordinator
Brandon Sun, Treasurer
Parkside Generation Action
Crystal Egbo, Co-President
Aniyah Miller, Vice President
Parkside International Club
Cynthia Bhatti, President
Sheryl Philip, Vice President
Yashi Dikshit, Treasurer
Loveneet Sidhu, Secretary
Farha Khan, Public Relations Officer
Parkside Journal of Science
Venu Rajyaguru, Executive Editor
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Malik Harris, Vice President
Residence Hall Association
Elonna Jones-Turner, Vice President of Administration
JaMarie Edwards, Vice President of Administration
Residence Life
Darvell Peel, Resident Advisor
Stephanie Bonds, Resident Advisor
Kamille Roberson, Resident Advisor
Catherine Brooks, Resident Advisor
Chantiay Wilson, Resident Advisor
Jesus Manso Carrasquillo, Resident Advisor
Desmond Bentley, Resident Advisor
Nia Harrell, Resident Advisor
Mohamed Mursal, Resident Advisor
Julia Atkins, Resident Advisor
Nada Ivanic, Resident Advisor
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Jamya Jones, President
Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc.
Zachary Atkins, President
Darvell Peel, Vice President
William Vargas, Treasurer
Angel Millan, Brotherhood Chair
Nathaniel James, Recruitment Chair
William Vargas, Membership Educator
Angel Millan, Cultural Awareness Chair
Darvell Peel, Recruitment Chair
Darvell Peel, Assistant Membership Educator
Zachary Atkins, Scholarship Chair
Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
Sandi Quello, President
Leslie Guzman, Vice President
Leslie Guzman, Treasurer
Jaquielin Zaragoza, Secretary
Jaquielin Zaragoza, Recruitment Chair
Jaquielin Zaragoza, Academic Chair
Sandi Quello, Event Coordinator
Sandi Quello, Academic Chair
Alex Barrera, Volunteer Coordinator
Student Government
Anmol Patel, Vice President
Loveneet Sidhu, SUFAC Director
Alisson Anguiano Salas, Speaker of the Senate
Jocelyn Aguirre, Parliamentarian
Esmeralda Aguilar, Senator
Cameron Spencer, Senator
Londun Howard, Senator
Annette Copado, Senator
Jeremy Jin, Senator
Joseph Gustin, Senator
Daniel Hawkins, Senator
Norma Acuna-Cruz, Senator
Ismael Ortiz, Senator
Alyx Pedraza, Senator
Student Health & Counseling Center
Jonathan Ochoa, Peer Health Educators
Marisol Diaz-Flores, Peer Health Educators
Molinna Bui, Peer Health Educators
Ariana Hernandez, Peer Health Educators
Student Support Services
Alisson Anguiano Salas, Coach
Tekeyia Bell, Coach
Cynthia Bhatti, Coach
Miracle Hermann, Coach
Dawt Iang, Coach
Raaid Museitif, Coach
Loveneet Sidhu, Coach
William Vargas, Coach
Amber Ortiz, Coach
Kamaria Maiola, Coach
Ivan Garcia, Coach
Jorge Peralta, Emerging Leader
Jordyn Herte, Emerging Leader
La’Sadiez West, Emerging Leader
Adama M Bah, Emerging Leader
Dylan Oberbroeckling, Emerging Leader
![]() Always Reaching Upward (ARU) Success Coach of the Year Raelea PalaciosSenior | Psychology Nominators mentioned the following about this award winner This individual exemplifies what it means to be a great mentor and a great person overall! Raelea is always on time to meetings/events, she is kind, helpful and genuine. Raelea has been with the ARU Program for a long time and she deserves this recognition. She is dedicated, takes the initiative, and actively participates. |
![]() Always Reaching Upward (ARU) Protégé of the Year Elonna Jones-TurnerFirst Year | Communication Nominators mentioned the following about this award winner Elonna is an extremely positive and driven person. She's always been engaged with her peers and the UW-Parkside community. Although the typical mentor-mentee relationship is characterized by mentors inspiring mentees, Elonna always motivates her mentor to do better! Elonna is active in BSU (Black Student Union), OMSA (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs), and ARU programming. She has a warm personality and connects well with others. |
![]() Student Support Services (SSS TRIO) Coach of the Year Tekeyia BellSenior | Psychology Nominators mentioned the following about this award winner Tekeyia Bell is phenomenal. She is skilled at assessing needs, demonstrating active listening skills, asking purposeful questions, and providing academic and career guidance to her peers. Tekeyia is thoughtful and sincere. She has truly made an impact in the lives of others. |
![]() Student Support Services (SSS TRIO) Protégé of the Year Jorge PeraltaFirst Year | Psychology Nominators mentioned the following about this award winner Jorge is self-motivated, positive minded, and dedicated to reaching his academic and career goals. He is approachable, ambitious, adaptable, and eager to step outside of his comfort zone. With an outgoing personality, Jorge quickly made meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and fellow students. He is a true role model to his peers. |
Graduating Seniors
Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors
Yesenia Abarca |
Iftikhar Ejaz |
Norma Lopez |
Nushratzaha Saiyad
|

Dear Amazing Graduates:
Congratulations on “taking care of business” and receiving your degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside! What an amazing accomplishment!
In these unprecedented times, I imagine that you are experiencing a certain level of uncertainty and maybe fear about the future. While the emotion of fear and thoughts of uncertainty is normal, do not let them become a roadblock to achieving greatness in whatever form that might be. You are perfectly positioned and capable of facing any challenge the world may present. You all have the power to bring about the change that is so desperately needed in this world, and I have no doubt that you will rise to the task.
In closing, I offer the following quotes of inspiration and encouragement:
"I am" are two of the most powerful words because what you put after them shapes your reality." —Unknown
"If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door." —Unknown
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” —Unknown
Dr. Sheronda Glass
Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Congratulations graduates, leaders in the community, and achievers of high levels of academic excellence. Your achievements are to be commended even more, because they are realized in the most challenging of times. In the context of these times, I want to focus on hope and a call for action.
Clear blue skies are a sign of hope. There is hope for our climate in the form of clear blue skies that can be seen over many of the larger cities in the world as the result of a decline in the burning of fossil fuels, because in these challenging times, people are driving less, taking public transportation less. These clear blue skies give us a glimpse of what is possible – a healthy climate if we curb our reliance on fossil fuel.
But these challenging times have also magnified many of the problems in today’s society: the low minimum wage of frontline workers; the lack of affordable health care for everyone; inadequate affordable housing and homelessness; inequities in computer and internet access; and extreme political partisanship.
In these particularly changing times, I want to congratulate you on all your achievements and call you to action. Use your drive to persist and your talents to effect and lead change in the world for the better. Your leadership is needed now more than ever. In the words of Martin Luther King, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late … This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”1
In your capacity as sociologists, politicians, environmental scientists, teachers, doctors, business managers, artists, coaches and from all the other disciplines that make up a healthy, vibrant, and diverse community, continue the steps to right the wrongs in our world. Think of clear blue skies as a hopeful reminder of what you can realize through change that is possible.
Dr. Chris Zanowski
Director of Student Support Services TRIO
1 King, M. L. 1967. April 4 speech called “Beyond Vietnam” at a meeting of clergy and laity concerned at Riverside Church, New York City.
Downloadable Program Booklet Featuring Awardees
#ParksideTCB Messages of Congratulations and Support
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