As an international student from Ecuador, North Park University sparked in Daniela Pojmaevich Jennings a love for intercultural friendships.

After graduating, she returned to Ecuador, spending seven years as the Quito Quest director with Misión Mundo Juvenil. She built short-term team experiences with local and visiting churches, assisted pastors in poverty alleviation, and ran a leadership/discipleship program for college-aged students. Her motto, “People over projects,” guides her work.

After getting married and returning to the United States, Pojmaevich Jennings served as the leadership pipeline director at Casa Chirilagua in Alexandria, Virginia, supporting Latino immigrant families through mentorship, education, community mobilization, and conversations exploring immigration and faith.

When accepting her award, she said, “North Park instilled in me awareness of myself, God, and others. Thank you for creating spaces for learning, growth, community, and service.”

Pojmaevich Jennings lives in South Carolina with her husband, Caleb, and their son, Sebastian (1).