In the News

Students form relationships, make impact on local businesses in Panama

The tilapia swam in a large tub that looked like an above ground swimming pool, gliding past the group of onlookers. A pump made of PVC piping deposited fresh water into the tank, providing the fish with a regular supply of fresh oxygen. Leonardo, the man who earned his livelihood from the tank’s temporary residents, stood beside a group of Marquette students, walking them through his operation.

Congratulations to the nearly 100 Milwaukee School of Engineering students who were nominated for leadership awards this year. The following awards were announced at a Student Awards Celebration on April 30, 2024.

Outstanding Student Award: Christian Garcia was chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Fred F. Loock Outstanding Student Award. This award is presented annually to the MSOE senior student, who, in the opinion of the faculty, most notably combines an excellent academic record and has at the same time demonstrated leadership and professional bearing in extracurricular or community service activities.

With a holistic model grounded in giving people the tools to help themselves, Global Brigades can be life-changing for communities — and students.

There are organizations around the country that take students to developing countries to provide basic medical care to residents. They offer free clinics and perform basic, crucial procedures to improve the lives of those without access to health care. Global Brigades is one of these organizations — but it is also much more.

Founded at Marquette in 2003 by alumna Dr. Shital Vora, H Sci ’04, PT ’06, Global Brigades is the largest student-run humanitarian organization in the world. Chief among the organization’s priorities is giving people the tools to build and sustain healthy and thriving communities themselves.

The Southern Illinois University System board of trustees and the student advisory committee for the SIU System (SACSS) are honoring some outstanding students with the 2024 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Award.

Eight students from the SIU campuses in Carbondale, Edwardsville and Springfield were recently honored at the SIU board meeting that was held in Carbondale on April 11.

Children’s Wisconsin CEO Peggy Troy to speak at Graduate School and Graduate School of Management ceremony

Shital Vora, M.D., CEO and co-founder of Global Brigades, will serve as Marquette University’s 2024 undergraduate Commencement speaker, and Peggy Troy, Children’s Wisconsin CEO, will speak at the Graduate School and Graduate School of Management ceremony. Both are Marquette alumnae. As part of the university’s Commencement ceremonies, Vora and Troy will be presented honorary doctor of humane letters degrees.

Marquette’s 143rd Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, May 12, at Fiserv Forum, located at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. With the first round of the NBA playoffs starting April 20, it is our understanding that the Milwaukee Bucks organization will not be able to notify the university of the exact date for Commencement until April 28 (game 4) at the soonest or May 4 (game 7) at the latest, depending on first round playoff results.

Marquette leaders share in our students’ and their families’ frustrations and continue to ask for patience and understanding while the university awaits the Bucks’ schedule.

Global Brigades CEO and co-founder Dr. Shital Vora to serve as undergraduate Commencement speaker; Children’s Wisconsin CEO Peggy Troy will deliver graduate ceremony speech

Eight regional students were honored by the SIU Board of Trustees with the 2024 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Award at a meeting held in Carbondale on April 11.

The Southern Illinois University System Board of Trustees and the Student Advisory Committee for the SIU System (SACSS) honored the students who were from campuses in Carbondale, Edwardsville and Springfield.

Bring on the dinner that also helps the students of University of New Hampshire.

Hey, we all have to eat, right? So why not plan to eat dinner at a fabulous restaurant not only known for their pizza, but also their philanthropy?

You have to love local establishments who offer 20% of all eat-in or takeout to be donate to a great cause for that night, and it’s almost here.

The Oven (formerly The Community Oven) in Epping, New Hampshire, will host a fundraiser for one of the regions favorite UNH groups on April 29. Global Medical Brigades is going to Panama in January to help communities in medical need, but first, they need your help.

In the fall of 2021, Chris Facenda-Torres arrived at Penn State’s campus after a freshman year lost to COVID-19. With things mostly back to normal, he browsed the Involvement Fair and came across the Penn State Global Medical Brigades.

Though he hoped the organization had an education chapter to complement his secondary education major, Facenda-Torres found himself interested in the medical chapter.

In 2003, Shital Chauhan Vora, H Sci ’04, PT ’06, had a vision to create an immersion experience for students to travel to Central America to provide important care to those in need and instill best health practices in impoverished communities.

Over 20 years later, students in the College of Health Sciences continue Vora’s work, but with an additional context in mind: this year’s mission theme, en todo amar y servir or “in everything to love and serve.”