Wonder Women 2021 Panel and Scholarship Award Recipients

On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship’s Women’s Success Series in partnership with the NSU Center for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) as part of the Student Leadership and Civic Engagement (SLCE) office’s LEAD21 week, held their 2021 NSU Wonder Women panel and scholarship announcement virtually via Zoom. An inspiring panel of female business leaders in a variety of industries was moderated by NSU’s own Wonder Woman, Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing, and Creative Services, Kyle Fisher. The Wonder Woman panelist were:

Caitlin Beck Stella, MPH: Chief Executive Officer – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq.: Shareholder – Becker & Poliakoff
Jennifer Cerami: Vice President of IDN Sales – Medline Industries, Inc.
Ruth LLanos-Vos: Associate Product Manager – UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group)
Juliet Murphy Roulhac, Esq.: Director of Corporate External Affairs – Florida Power & Light Company
Tina Diehl: Vice President of Car Sales – Enterprise Holdings

Leading up to the event NSU faculty, staff, and students were asked to nominate students they felt represented all of the qualities of a wonder woman. Nominees were evaluated based on the following criteria: Leadership, Academics Excellence & Career Focus, Community Service, Integrity/Ethics, and Female Empowerment.

There were over 50 nominations and all of the nominees truly represented what it means to be a Wonder Woman.

Winner of the 2021 Wonder Women Award will receive a $500 scholarship and 2^nd and 3^rd place winners will receive a $300 and $200 scholarship, respectively.

1^st Place – Alexandra Lugo

Alexandra is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience with a 3.7 GPA
This Wonder Woman started an honors research independent study in her first semester. She serves on the Honors Student Advisory Board.
Alexandra started her own a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Children’s Charity, Inc. (https://www.thechildrenscharityinc.org/ ) addressing pediatric public health issues and has collected over $35,000 in donations. During the holidays, she brought her nonprofit efforts to NSU and collected school supplies for children learning from hospitals.
Alexandra has proudly embodied the advancement of women’s empowerment as both a woman in STEM and the daughter of immigrants.

2^nd Place – Alyssa Petti

Alyssa is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience degree
This Wonder Woman has served as the Treasurer and now Vice President of Campus Cursive, a student club at NSU that spreads positivity across the campus.
Alyssa interned for Chainless Change, Inc. a group that works with incarcerated individuals to connect to the community when re-entering society, as an Outreach Coordinator.
Alyssa also works on campus, as a student assistant at the Martin and Gail Press Health Professions Division Library and a Peer Leader for the UNIV 1000 course.
If this is not enough, Alyssa she maintains an educational blog that surrounds mental health on Instagram called @journeytoapositiveme. She empowers others to believe in themselves, be confident and creates a safe space for her peers. She is an advocate for body positivity, inclusivity, and equality.

3^rd Place – Riley Pardo Duffin

Riley is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree at NSU.
This Wonder Woman is a regular on the Dean’s list and has a 3.82 GPA.
Riley is a student-athlete on NSU’s track team and also serves in NSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
This Wonder Woman helps future sharks as a Shark Preview Leader and Orientation Leader with the Office of Orientation.
Riley serves in leadership and the Minority Association of Premedical Students.
Riley works as a Biology Lab Assistant and Chemistry Lab Assistant, and adapted lab plans during the COVID-19 pandemic, and set a standard for students that attend her lab.
Riley is also currently part of an independent research study focusing on racial health care disparities.

Congrats to all of our winners and once again a big round of applause for all of our nominees and finalist as everyone nominated truly is a Wonder Women.