By Katie Land, news editor
With the 19th annual Keeper of the Dream celebration, Oakland University takes pause to honor four exceptional students who embody the spirit of interracial and multicultural understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Emily Tissot, dual Spanish and anthropology major, Se Min “Gerald” Sun, biology major, Rodrina Moore, business major and Aianna Scott, psychology major will be recognized at the 2011 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration on Monday, Jan. 17.
The students were selected based on their exceptional leadership qualities, academic achievement and dedication to promoting a diverse and positive community both on campus, and in the world at large.
With a focus on local and international volunteerism, Tissot has organized and participated in many cultural development projects overseas, and has traveled to Mexico, Peru, and the Domincan Republic to teach language and health skills.
As a student, she is a member of the Honors College at OU, works as a Resident Assistant, and serves as a student liaison to the Oakland University Board of Trustees. Tissot has also participated in the University Senate, OU Gear Up College Program, served as a mentor for the Center for Mulitcultural Initiatives, a Spanish translator for the Crossroads Pregnancy Center, and founded OU's Spanish Club.
Originally from the Republic of Korea, Sun knows what it is like to be in a cultural minority. He prizes diverse understanding and cooperation, and chose to make himself a multicultural ambassador both on campus and in his personal life.
At OU, Sun volunteers to assist many of the international students on campus. He also is involved in the International Allies Club, the Asian American Student Association and the Japanese Culture Club. Sun continues to be a positive peer influence by volunteering as a Disability Support Services Peer Consultant and an Academic Skills Center tutor.
Moore works constantly to build a strong sense of inclusion and community on campus. As the president and adviser for the Oakland University Apartment Association, she hopes to engage the student community and helped implement a diversity panel.
She also volunteers both on and off campus, notably as president of the Oakland student organization, RED COW, which stands for Revive, Experience, Dream, Change Our World. Moore has worked to organize events and initiatives for a variety of causes, including a Haiti relief fundraiser, a white ribbon campaign to raise awareness about violence to women and even a recycling campaign.
Scott is well known on campus for being a champion of disability causes. She created the OU Students Toward Understanding Disabilities Buddy Program, which is designed to help disabled students make the transition to college and to graduation by being paired with a mentor.
Working for her cause, Scott is also involved in a number of other notable organizations such as Glory Phi God, the Oakland University Center for Autism Research, Education and Support (OU CARES), and has participated in numerous events such as “Autism Family Fun Day,” and “National Make a Difference Day,” where she worked to beautify local schools and organize a book drive for children in Detroit Public Schools.
Sponsor of the KOD scholarship awards include Barnes & Noble Bookstores at Oakland University; Beaumont Hospitals; Jones, Lang, LaSalle Americas, Inc.; the Oakland University Alumni Association; Cooley Law School; and the OU/MSU Federal Credit Union.
For more information about the Keeper of the Dream event, please call the Center for Multicultural Initiatives at (248) 370-4404 or visit
oakland.edu/kod.
