Checking in with a Conexiones Awardee: Kevin Garcia

Kevin Garcia is just one of the many hard working students recognized by Conexiones, but he represents the drive and enthusiasm to help others they all share.

In 2008, Kevin became the first recipient of the Feli Sola-Carter Award, which recognizes a student for leadership skills. "The Conexiones award was my first real award," he says. "It meant a lot because I'd worked so hard for it. I feel blessed to get this opportunity to get what I worked hard for."

While still in high school, Kevin participated in the Maryland Hispanic Youth Symposium, and returned for two additional years as a volunteer. He's continuing his outreach efforts at Sewanee: The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tenn. Last year, his first at Sewanee, he led a group of fellow students on a trip to New Orleans to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. This year, among many other activities, he's secretary of a group called HOLA, which stands for Hispanic Organization for Latino Awareness.

"What I like best about college is definitely the freedom," he says. "Having the whole college experience - it's different from anything I'd experienced before. You can choose what you want to do, like pick your classes and activities. But time management is a huge factor and I'm still working on it."

Kevin makes the most of his free time: in addition to HOLA, he plays rugby, sings in a gospel choir, is in a fraternity, and enjoys hiking and caving.

Not only did he learn to organize his time to do well academically and take advantage of all of the extracurricular activities offered, he's had to adjust to a different culture.

"It's predominantly white. I'm one of two Hispanic males in my class of 350," he says. "I grew up in Howard County, which is really nice, but I was definitely lower middle class. This is like going to a new world. You have to learn the customs. Here, they dress up to go to football games. At home, you could just wear your school colors. At Sewanee, guys wear khaki pants, a jacket and tie, and girls wear dresses, even to parties."

Other Sewanee traditions he's enjoying include walking or biking to campus, rather than driving, and always saying hello when you pass someone, whether you know them or not. And some might be surprised to learn that even among Kevin's very connected generation, talking or texting on cell phones are looked down on as part of the "Save Sewanee" movement to keep the small community tight knit.

That community includes Kevin's professors. "I know them all," he says. "I have been over their houses for dinner, discussions, and movies. They play sports with the students, and they live on campus because it's on top of a mountain." He's even gotten to know the school's administrators, particularly the dean, who is his mentor.

Kevin chose Sewanee because it was one of the partner schools of the Posse Foundation, which awarded him a scholarship. The Posse Foundation assists schools in identifying and recruiting exceptional groups of diverse students, and provides full tuition for four years. The school pays for his books. "It's a merit leader scholarship," he explains, "so there's a lot to keep up. And I get money from school, they pay for books. It's very generous."

As much as he's enjoying school, being away from home isn't always easy. Kevin is an only child, and home is a 12-hour drive, or 2.5 hour flight/drive combination away. "Last year I didn't think would be so hard," he admits. "I was ambitious, I was ready to be independent. I was always independent. I liked to learn on my own. But I went home for Christmas break and second semester was harder."

Kevin was busy with his classes and many activities, and couldn't call home as often as he wanted. This year has been even harder, he says, because he became closer to his family over the summer. "It's hard being away from the people you love, and when there are not a lot of people like you. I take every day, one at a time."

But you get a lot more freedom, and get to do things you wouldn't think of doing. I wouldn't have thought of me going hiking or caving. But because of these opportunities I'm able to do it."

Kevin has this advice for current high school students: "Take on every challenge or opportunity head on. Apply for college no matter what. Even if you think you don't have the money, or that you'll get in. This only happened for me because I applied for every opportunity."