Gateway

Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Features

photo by Patrick Doty [Click to enlarge]

Since 1985, life at UNO seems to have changed completely to Cindy Gonzalez.

However, after 20 years Gonzalez found herself back on campus with new acquaintances and a trip down memory lane. The Omaha-World Herald reporter graduated in 1985 with a degree in journalism.

New to the campus since her graduation is the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies of the Great Plains, which brought her back to campus on Sept. 27 to honor her for dedication and veracity in her coverage of Latin American community issues.

Next generation leadership scholars, incoming Latin American students, and OLLAS majors and minors were invited to attend the luncheon.

Among the 60 attendees included a trace of Gonzalez's past. Her old professors from the Goodrich Program at UNO brought support and familiarity.

"It was gratifying personally and professionally to return to UNO and be recognized for coverage of issues related to the immigrant and Latino/Latin American community, and to see some old professors and current students," Gonzalez said. "The growth of the foreign-born population from all over the world is having such a profound impact on our community at large, and I look forward to the ongoing challenge of finding the most effective people and ways to tell people that story."

The luncheon program itself was for new students, said Lucy A. Garza, project coordinator and academic advisor of OLLAS.

"It [is] intended to help [students] meet faculty members and staff on campus to help them have access to have a familiar face to go to with any questions and how to navigate through campus life," she said.

Gonzalez's talents were found early in her life at Omaha Paul VI High School. Rather than excelling at only a few hobbies, she managed to play softball, volleyball and basketball. She also worked for the yearbook and graduated class valedictorian.

These opportunities not only shaped her into the person she is today, but also helped create a path towards a future of success and accomplishment, especially in the arena of Latin American studies.

Gonzalez covered her first major immigration story in 1991 and 1992. It included two Omaha South High School students who were arrested during classes and deported to Mexico without their parents.

Continued...

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