Ricardo Ariza has always preferred to give his time to others than to receive awards. His continued work for others at Creighton has caught the eye of Heartland Latino Leadership Conference.
Ariza, director of Creighton’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, has been chosen to receive the 2009 Education Award from the Heartland Latino Leadership Conference. The award is given to someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in improving education for Hispanics in Nebraska.
Several awards will be given to various leaders in the Latino community. The categories include Education, Health and Human Services, Arts and Humanities, Government, Business, Latino Partner and Youth.
Ariza was nominated for the Education Award by Charo Rangel and MarÃa Vasquez, his colleagues in the Latino Achievement Council.
Arizo plays an important role in advancing the education of students at Creighton regardless of their ethnicity.
“Students from all cultures are welcome to come here, you use the office’s resources and build community,” Arizo said.
On any given day, between 30 and 40 students at Creighton utilize the resources the office provides.
Ariza has been working at Creighton for the past 16 years. He has dedicated much of his professional career to the advancement of educational opportunities for minorities and promoting multicultural awareness.
He helped start a high school outreach program serving under-represented minority populations interested in continuing education.
He also began an annual Migrant Service Learning Project for students and community members, which brings students from Creighton into the communities of migrant workers during spring break.
Like a spring break service trip, this program brings around 10 students to poor communities where they are paired with a worker and travel with him or her through his or her daily activities.
“[Legal Aid of Nebraska] asked why I had never done a project like this in Nebraska. I asked them ‘when would you like us to?'”
The students learned from their experience with the migrant workers and, in turn, shared some of their experiences with these people. They also helped educate the residents of these communities about their legal rights in the United States.
Ariza helped oversee a trip to Ohio and California doing the same work they did in Omaha neighborhoods after extensive training.
“Students knew in depth legal enforcement,” he said. “We went door to door .”
Ariza currently serves as a co-chair on the Latino Achievement Council, an organization dedicated serving as a catalyst for academic excellence by promoting the advancement of leadership within the Latino
community.
“I see myself as someone who has a responsibility to serve my community,” Ariza said about of receiving the award.
“I am honored to receive this award, but for me it is much more important to give.”