Three seniors were honored for their academic and service achievements during their time at North Park.
North Park University presents the Distinguished Senior award each spring to one male and one female from the graduating class. The award recognizes students with extraordinary leadership, dedicated service on and off campus, superior academic performance, and a demonstrated commitment to North Park’s mission of living lives of significance and service.
Katarina Dague was a biochemistry major and a member of the Honor Society, as well as a student member of numerous science clubs and societies. In December 2018, she presented the findings of research she had conducted to the American Chemistry Society.
A six-time Academic All-Conference athlete in cross country and track, Dague also volunteered at Swedish Covenant Hospital and Lamb’s Farm, a Chicago-area organization that helps improve the lives of the developmentally disabled. She hopes to pursue an MD or PhD and eventually help address health disparities between urban and rural populations.
Anosh Wasker, a double physics and math major from India, took mission trips to Appalachia, Nepal, and India during his time at North Park, while also helping run labs as a Teacher’s Assistant and impressing professors along the way, being described as a smart, deep thinker.
“In my 35 years at North Park, Anosh is one of the best students I’ve ever had,” said longtime Physics Professor Linda McDonald. “He exemplifies the best North Park qualities.”
Wasker said he loved the community he found at North Park, and especially enjoyed talking to people with different viewpoints and backgrounds. “Listening is not passive,” Wasker said. “People are different, but they don’t have to be ‘other.’”
Meanwhile, history and education major Dariel Chaidez received an award from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to study in Spain. While at North Park, Chaidez also served as editor-in-chief of North Park’s Spectrum Magazine, a student-run publication covering culture and politics.
Pamela Thuswaldner, a German Professor and North Park’s Fulbright Director, helped Chaidez with the Fulbright application process. She is hosting several workshops on campus to provide students with detailed information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including eligibility requirements, types of grants, and application timelines. North Park’s deadline to apply for the next round of awards is set for Aug. 9.