Tracy Montanez, a University of Wyoming business administration senior from Alliance, Neb., is the recipient of the Willena Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award.
The award honors Stanford, a former UW instructor and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. March and Days of Dialogue steering committee.
As a McNair Scholars Program member, Montanez last summer participated in a funded research internship directed by Roland Kidwell, UW Department of Management and Marketing associate professor. Montanez conducted an extensive literature review, developed a methodology for conducting his project and wrote a research proposal.
"Tracy's commitment to diversity and equity are significant," says a person who nominated Montanez for the award. "Knowing that diversity goes beyond skin color and gender issues, Tracy has contributed creative ideas to support the non-traditional student population on our campus."
As a member of the UW Multicultural Student Leadership Initiative, he is a mentor to a first-year student. He assists the student in developing leadership skills and introduces him to the importance of activities related to social justice.
Montanez is a member and historian for the student group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanos de Atzlan (MEChA), in which he has participated in diversity programming, including the annual fiesta and the sugar skulls workshop. He is a member of the UW Student Advisory Board and previously served as a Minority Undergraduate Fellow in the Vice President for Student Affairs office. Montanez is a member of the UW chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Other nominees for the award were Chelsea Hampton, Samuel Saftwat Hanna, Elizabeth Quinn Kenworthy, Chumba Limo, Chuong Huynh Ma, Aylin Marquez, Tenzin Nyinjey and Grant Walsh-Haines.
For more information about the Stanford award, call John Nutter at (307) 766-5123 or e-mail nutter@uwyo.edu.
