Nicole Wroblewski
Fairfield University
Nicole Wroblewski, a sophomore pursuing an international studies major and minors in history and humanitarian action, is a student who stands out above others for her humanitarian drive, involvement on campus and her motivation to help people touched by crisis. For the past two years, she has been active in the Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network student club, attending multiple alternative break trips to work with refugees and other marginalized populations and participating in local service projects. She brings her experiences back to campus, sharing with her fellow students the issues she encountered and raising awareness of global and local poverty. Nicole is committed to addressing global humanitarian issues and shares her desire to serve and help others with her peers. She is a true advocate, passionate about creating a lasting and sustainable difference in the world.
Personal Statement
Throughout my life I have been involved in multiple service trips where I have witnessed discrimination, neglect and inequality. These trips have brought me all over the world. Each of these experiences left me with a better understanding of the root causes of the numerous issues facing our world and ways in which I could further help the people most in need. The issue that stood out to me the most existed right here in the USA and was being tackled by a small group in Connecticut. Simply Smiles is a not-for-profit organization bringing brighter futures to the community in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation. As a result of my experience on the reservation, I was asked to address these issues at a general assembly at my high school. During these lectures, I educated the students on the suicide epidemic among children and alcoholism on the reservation. These are ongoing issues and largely ignored by our media and government. I believe that the Newman Civic Fellows award will help me bring attention to the hardships on the reservation and provide brighter futures to the remarkable Lakota children.
