Tell us about the person you are nominating. Why are you nominating them?

Within the first days of school, Maria reached out to Student Government and brought up the idea of fundraising for the KGI Community to support the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas. As a first year international student from Guyana with friends and family in the Bahamas, Maria's deep care for supporting the many communities to which she belongs was apparent from when I first spoke to her. Throughout the planning stages for this fundraiser, Maria was proactive in helping provide informational materials, identify a fund of her choosing, and organize friends to table and spread awareness. Aside from this fundraiser, she is a kind and warm-hearted student and a pleasure to see around campus!

Briefly tell us about any contributions that this person has made to the KGI campus and/or the community.

Maria ensured that each day of her four days of tabling during the Hurricane Dorian relief fundraiser, she was prepared with treats for donors and a friend or two to help spread awareness of the cause. By bringing together her immediate KGI peers, she was able to drive the entire KGI community to contribute to this amazing cause. With her encouraging spirit and the help of her friends, KGI community, and even an Uber driver, she was able to raise an amazing sum of $242, all of which will be donated to HeadKnowles Foundation, a Bahamian organization that organized relief operations during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Joaquin in 2015.