Aurora student recognized for years of giving
Exhibiting a strong commitment to volunteerism and student involvement, Waubonsee Community College sophomore Azucena Godinez epitomizes the college's core value of service. For her excellence in and out of the classroom, Waubonsee's board of trustees honored Godinez at its December meeting as part of the school's Student Recognition Initiative.
A nursing major from Aurora, Godinez plans to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing and join the Adventist Development and Relief Agency as a caregiver in foreign countries. Godinez's career aspirations are not surprising given that she has been volunteering in her community since middle school. She has participated in the Aurora Area United Way's Days of Caring by working on projects at the Salvation Army in Aurora, the Hesed House, Family Focus and various day care facilities. She is a very active volunteer and participant in many faith-based and leadership development activities and events at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the east side of Aurora.
In her time at Waubonsee, Godinez has continued her service-oriented activities. A graduate of East Aurora High School, she is a Gustafson Scholar, a member of the Waubonsee Student Senate and the Student Senate Communications Officer. She is also the vice president of Psi Beta, the psychology honor society, and a member of the Psychology Club.
Godinez is currently working on an Autism Fundraiser with Psi Beta and Psychology Club members. This fall Psi Beta coordinated the college's Black and White Dance, bringing in food and monetary donations for Hesed House. She has assisted Psi Beta in the research they are conducting for the organization's national Shyness Project, and attended the national American Psychological Association Conference in 2007. As a freshman, she was a member of Waubonsee's women's cross country team.
A participant in Waubonsee's Personal Development Leadership Class in the fall of 2007, Godinez helped to organize a leadership project that involved teenage girls who are incarcerated at the St. Charles Correctional Center. She made several presentations, led group discussions and created an interactive exercise for the teens so that they could learn about personal values, goals and life choices, as well as the importance of completing their high school education and attending college.
Godinez has always been a "big reader" and believes reading has opened the door to many of her interests. She credits her mother for encouraging this passion, by reading books to her every day as a small child.