Urban Studies 2020 Department Award Winners

Had a pandemic not intervened, department faculty would have proudly been watching our students receive awards in a ceremony at Mechanics Hall tonight. It is a highlight of the graduation season, one of many that have been canceled unfortunately because of shelter-in-place procedures. Nevertheless, it is our pleasure to publicly recognize them here and share the bios we wrote for them.

The Urban Studies Academic Award

Cheryl Thomas wins this year's Academic Award. Cheryl is from Westborough and is committed to community engagement in her hometown, where she serves as part of Sustainable Westborough, an advisory group to the Westborough Board of Selectmen. When Westborough received the state's designation as a "Green Community," Cheryl was at the forefront of efforts to organize and submit the 2020 grant applications for which such a designation made her town eligible. In October of 2019 she co-chaired a successful educational event about vaping and e-cigarettes for the community, as part of her volunteer work with an organization called "Westborough Connects," which works to create and execute programs for the enrichment and unity of Westborough residents. During her time at WSU, Cheryl demonstrated her commitment to her town and community--and to the betterment of society at large--through her coursework and research as an Urban Studies major. In particular, she has pursued urban planning courses and has done independent research with the department's urban planner on questions of sustainability and urban form. In addition to Cheryl's passion to make the world a better place, her intellectual curiosity and dedication to serious academic work makes her an obvious candidate for this award. Once she completes her bachelors, Cheryl hopes to continue to work for her town and she is considering graduate school. 

The Vincent “Jake” Powers Award

Jonathan Moraes won this year’s Vincent “Jake” Powers award.  Like Jake, the founder of the Department of Urban Studies, Jonathan has a keen interest in people and their lives, is a perceptive thinker who easily sees connections across disciplines, and is especially driven to better himself and others as he pursues his career. Born and raised in the Acushnet and New Bedford areas, his research focus in the department was on child services and youth advocacy.  For his capstone scholarship and upper level written work, he explored foster care system overcrowding in Massachusetts.  In this he was particularly focused on how various social and structural state and local governments contributed to the situation, and where their actions succeded or came up short.  He was especially interested in the role of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.  His internship, a practical experience informed his scholarly work, was at Child & Family Services in New Bedford.  As a mentor there, he assessed and identified various conditions experienced by clients, and their individual capabilities to manage them as he helped to assemble the correct and most effective treatment plans.  Throughout much of his time at Worcester State, Jonathan also worked in the university’s Latino Education Institute providing mentoring by working on college readiness and career exploration in classes with juniors and seniors from area high schools.  After graduation, Jonathan will work in the field of social services in Worcester.  

The Julia Mack Award

Beryl "Bev" Pettiford, originally from Boston, offers a tremendously valuable contribution to the classroom climate of every course she takes. Bev became an Urban Studies major due to her interest in cities. Now, on the brink of graduation, Bev sees her major as much more valuable in ways that she never imagined. Urban Studies has taught her to think critically about people, diversity, and the unique role that we all play in constructing our society and nation. Bev finds that she applies knowledge gained from her coursework to both her current job as a mental health technician and in preparation to become an advocate for others in her future career. Bev has overcome much adversity. She has successfully raised five children, worked for a number of different companies, started and run her own business, and been the recipient of several awards including being recognized in the Who's Who of Colleges. In January 2020, she participated on a panel discussion about college student hunger at a legislative briefing at the Massachusetts State House. Bev is a first-generation college student and a graduate from Quinsigamond Community College where she began her college career at age 52. She says, “At 63 years old, I am living proof that it is never too late to get an education.” Bev hopes to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree here at WSU, setting an example for her grandchildren and all those in her orbit.