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GLENDA MEEKINS
of the Florida Catholic
ORLANDO When Thomas Wilkes received the Thomas More award last year from the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Central Florida, the recognition came with a check. The longtime parishioner at St. James Cathedral in Orlando re- turned it and requested the money serve to "expand the work of the Guild." The outcome was the es- tablishment of two scholarships for students attending local law schools - Barry University Dwayne O. An- dreas School of Law and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Uni- versity (FAMU) College of Law. Although no students from FAMU applied, Elizabeth Wheeler, a civil trial lawyer in the guild said several well-qualified students at Barry University applied. Among them was Gisselle Calderon-Cruz, a parishioner at St. Clare Parish in Deltona. The scholarship applica- tion required law students to sub- mit an essay of no more than 500 words on "how you see your faith intersecting with your future ca- reer." I am very blessed and grateful to receive this scholarship because higher education is very expensive, and my family comes from humble means," Calderon-Cruz said. "Both my parents actually left El Salvador and came to America in 1985 due to the Salvadoran Civil War- My parents coming to America with nothing has never stopped them from working extremely hard and making sacrifices to give my sister
Barry student earns scholarship
and me the educational opportuni- ties that they were never afforded. Understanding and knowing the poverty my parents experienced in El Salvador has always kept me very grounded and humble." Calderon-Cruz graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in political sci- ence and economics and a cer- tificate in emergency management and homeland security. While at Barry she has worked on the Child and Family Law Journal and is a member of the Immigration Law Society. She is a volunteer for the VITA Free Tax Program and works as an intern for a local law firm. She hopes to practice immigration law and credits her faith for guiding her in that direction. She said her moth- er taught her "reliance" on her faith at a young age. My decision to specialize in a certain field of law has been inextri- cably intertwined with my faith be- cause my ultimate goal has always been to contribute to my communi- ty, give back to those less fortunate, and spread the word of God," wrote Calderon-Cruz in her essay. "My faith is what has kept me grounded to pursue my legal education, which I hope will keep me centered during my legal career." Dean Leticia M. Diaz, presi- dent of the Catholic Lawyers Guild Central Florida noted, "Ms. Calde- ron-Cruz is most deserving of this award as she embodies the Catholic principles in her daily life, even now as a law student. Those principles will bode her well as she joins the profession of practicing attorneys whose good works are for the bet- terment of the community."
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Thomas Wilkes, left, recipient of the 2019 Catholic Lawyers Guild of Central Florida's Thomas More award, stands with Guild President Dr. Leticia Daz, Gisselle Calderon-Cruz and Bishop John Noonan. Calderon-Cruz, a second-year law student and parishioner at St. Clare Catholic Church in Deltona, is recipient of the newly established Thomas J. Wilkes Award. (ANDREA NAVARRO FC)
Students save lives
LINDA CALDWELL
Special to the Florida Catholic
DAYTONA BEACH Two eighth- grade Lourdes Academy students are being hailed as heroes after each jumped into action and saved a school employee and classmate from possibly dying. Friday, Nov. 6 Jonathan and fel- low classmate, Vyon, were enjoying their lunches in the cafeteria when Vyon began choking on a piece of a popsicle. Jonathan began pounding on his friend's back until the food piece dislodged. Jonathan said he and Vyon have been best friends since kindergarten and he would have been "destroyed" had any- thing happened to him. Three days later, it was Anto- nio who saved the day. During the school's aftercare program, Antonio was talking to program coordina- tor, Dawn Ritchie, when she began choking on a piece of food. Antonio quickly stepped in and performed the Heimlich maneuver on her, dislodging the obstacle from her throat. When Ritchie began prais- ing and thanking him, Antonio simply said, "You are welcome." He said he learned the life-sav- ing maneuver this summer after his mother went through a similar situation. I'm not surprised by the actions of these young men. It goes to show how they truly understand our root belief, 'loving the God you can- not see by loving the neighbor you can,'" said Stephen Dole, principal at Lourdes Academy. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and bravery to step in at a moment's notice to help someone in need. To do this as an eighth-grade student and potentially save a life is amazing," he said. Lourdes Academy has a long tradition of educating students in the Daytona Beach area since 1955. The school community is Christ- centered and recognizes the value and uniqueness of each person as a child of God.
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After a week of heroic acts, Lourdes Academy eighth grade students Antonio, left, Jonathan, and Vyon, and After Care Program Coordinator Dawn Ritchie pose together. Antonio and Jonathan are credited for saving Mrs. Ritchie and Vyon's lives, respectively, after the boys prevented them from choking. To view the video of the acts, CLICK HERE or on the inset icon. (COURTESY)
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