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MSSA President nominated for Truman Scholarship Abdul-Aziz 1 of 600 applicants for public service award KAITLYN JORGENSEN Staff Writer AbdulRahmane Abdul-Aziz is making headway where no Minnesota State University, Mankato student has before. Abdul-Aziz was recently named a Truman Scholarship finalist, a prestigious award given annually by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. He is 1 out of 200 national finalists.
Photo courtesy of MNSU
According to Giovanna Walters, the University Fellowship Coordinator, Abdul-Aziz is the first MNSU student to become a Truman finalist since the Office of University Fellowship was first created in 2013. Roughly 600 applications for the Truman Scholarship are submitted annually from institutions across the nation. The scholarship, however, is only granted to about 60 Truman Scholars nationwide. The required criteria to qualify for a Truman scholarship include: demonstrated participation in activities such as student government; government internships, commissions or boards; partisan or nonpartisan political activity; community service; an intent to work in public service and desire to improve society or the environment. “It’s an honor being nominated for a Truman Scholarship itself,” said Abdul-Aziz. ”I’ve learned a
Holly Blooflat | MSU Reporter
MSSA President AbdulRahmane Abdul-Aziz (left), MSSA Speaker Nolan Brinkman (center), MSSA Vice President Kayla Cremers (right) lot through the extensive process. It really showed me what kind of path I want to take and what kind of public servant I want to be and the work that I want to do.” Abdul-Aziz, a firstgeneration immigrant from Togo, is currently a junior pursuing a political science and sociology double major. He expects to graduate from
MNSU in 2020 after earning a master’s degree in public policy. His career goals are to become elected to public office so that he can inspire and uplift youth. He hopes to create and implement community-centric policies focused on benefiting marginalized communities. In summer 2017, AbdulAziz worked as a project
coordinator for the Office of Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith. While there he coordinated weekly with Urban Youth Corps Internship enrichment sessions for seven high-risk youth to prepare
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Women’s Center fosters education and equality
TAEHUI PARK Staff Writer The Women’s Center, located at CSU 218, offers a welcoming and safe place where all students can find numerous programs and events in terms of gender equity. Along with educational programs and events on women’s lives and health, the Women’s Center holds a variety of monthly and weekly
events, such as Discussions over Dinner and consultations on women’s issues. Topics range from sexual assault and sexual violence to women’s health and wellness to women’s history and empowerment. The Women’s Center also provides programs, connections, advocacy, services and leadership opportunities for all Minnesota State University, Mankato students. “The Women’s Center is a great place for students to get involved. We host event speakers, discussion groups and other types of educational programs with the goal of providing support and advocacy for women as
well as education and campus climate in terms of gender equity,” said Reńee MitchellMatsuyama, the assistant director of the Women’s Center. The mission of the Women’s
women students in both their personal and educational pursuits at MNSU. According to its official webpage, the Women’s Center highlights four features of action verbs:
“The Women’s Center also provides programs, connections, advocacy, services and leadership opportunities for all Minnesota State University, Mankato students.” Center is to foster a healthy, safe, and engaging campus community by enabling the full and active participation of
Inspire, Empower, Achieve and Lead: INSPIRE The Women’s Center offers
a welcoming space where students are encouraged to think and make choices in an accessible environment that enables transformation and change in themselves, in their community and beyond. EMPOWER The Women’s Center provides a safe, affirming a place in which students can find their voice, believe in themselves, and make decisions that are right for them. ACHIEVE Through our educational outreach programs, the
WOMEN’S CENTER PAGE 2
Looking for a job? Take a look at our Employment Section on pages 8-10 of this issue. TODAY’S FEATURED STORIES
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alissa.thielges@mnsu.edu
News Editor Alissa Thielges