On November 19, Sr. Norma Rocklage ’60, Ph.D., executive director for education formation outreach, received the Bertha Torres Award at the Sociedad Amigos de Colombia (SADCO) annual fundraising gala. The award recognized Rocklage’s efforts to recruit and retain Latino students while also celebrating their heritage.Rocklage started the Hispanic Advisory Board in 1990, and since then, she has worked to raise funds for scholarships for Latino students and develop better cultural competency by working with organizations in the community. The Maria of Guadalupe Endowed Scholarship is just one example of Rocklage’s efforts. The scholarship helps to promote higher education among people of Hispanic origin who are preparing to assume responsible roles in contemporary society.
“Our own college began to have a better culture because of it,” Rocklage said. “Most of our Latino students are also leaders on campus.”
Bertha Torres founded SADCO in 1984 to raise awareness for conditions in Colombia and help Latino students. The organization’s mission is to create caring community by drawing together Colombians and friends of Colombia in central Indiana.
Rocklage was not the only Marian University representative at the SADCO gala. Paula Angarita ’19 spoke at the event about her Colombian heritage and her educational experience. Angarita is a student in the dual degree engineering program and will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering upon graduation.