Brother Camillus Chavez, FSC, ’51: a beloved member of the SMC community for nearly half a century and the namesake of the award created by Saint Mary's Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies / Photo by Francis Tatem
Meet LaReina Torres ’25 and Cecilia Vanderveen ’25, Recipients of the 2024 ILaLS Camillus Chavez Award
They're forging their own paths and carrying on a legacy, thanks to the award that provides financial support to students studying Latinx diasporas or Latin America.
Since 2019, the Brother Camillus Chavez ILaLS Student Award has provided financial support to students studying Latinx diasporas or Latin America. The award was created by the Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies (ILaLS) and named in honor of Brother Camillus Chavez, FSC, ‘51 the beloved Christian Brother whose classes, meditations, and on-campus presence profoundly shaped the Saint Mary’s community for nearly five decades.
This year’s awards recipients are Cecilia Vanderveen ’25, a Justice, Community, and Leadership major with a minor in East Asian Studies, and LaReina Torres ’25, a Chemistry and History double major.
“Both Torres and Vanderveen exemplify the core values of ILaLS through their dedication to serving others and their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world,” says María Luisa Ruiz, Director of ILaLS and a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies. In honoring them, she says, “We not only celebrate their individual achievements but also reaffirm our collective responsibility to uphold the College’s core principles of social justice and community engagement.”
Past winners have applied their award toward textbooks, graduation fees, and teaching exams. Torres and Vanderveen will use the award to further their own personal growth, and in turn, the Saint Mary’s community.
Brother Camillus, who passed away at age 94 in May 2023, called the ILaLS award “the culmination of a lifetime.” Through this award, his legacy continues to live on.
Learning and Teaching Abroad
Cecilia Vanderveen is spending her Spring 2024 semester in Tokyo through Saint Mary’s Study Abroad Program. This isn't her first time far from home; her family moved often when she was growing up, and by the time she graduated high school, she had lived in California, Washington, New Hampshire, and Belgium. “Because I’ve moved around a lot, I became more compelled to increase my cultural sensitivity and fuel my craving for new people and places,” Vanderveen says.
She also wants to help others gain the same experience. As an assistant for the Center of International Programs, Vanderveen helps Latinx and other underrepresented students find funding opportunities for study abroad. With the ILaLS award, she can help fund her current semester in Japan.
“I am so honored and grateful to have received this award and for the opportunity to use my experience in Japan—which has been so wonderful and transformative—to encourage students to consider pursuing a term studying abroad,” Vanderveen says.
After she graduates from SMC, she plans to pursue a combined master’s degree and teaching credential at Saint Mary's and use those skills to teach elementary school students overseas.
LaReina Torres and Cecilia Vanderveen exemplify the core values of the Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies through their dedication to serving others and their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world, says ILaLS Director María Luisa Ruiz.
Becoming a Leader and Trailblazer
LaReina Torres is a first-generation college student from California’s Central Valley and a member of the High Potential Program. In Spring 2023, she was part of the Spring 2023 Public History course that conducted interviews with HP alumni from across five decades.
After college, Torres plans to become a trauma surgeon. She’s drawn to the occupation, in part, because it lacks people like her: Only 5% of trauma surgeons in the US are Hispanic or Latino, and only a small portion of that demographic are women. “It is crucial to have more representation in this field to better serve diverse communities,” she says.
Torres is “honored and grateful to have received this award,” and sees it as a step toward her medical aspirations. She plans to use the financial grant to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. Each year, the conference—hosted by the American Association of University Women—brings together hundreds of college women from throughout the country. Torres’ registration fee, as well as room and board, will be entirely covered by the award.
“This opportunity will allow me to gain valuable leadership training and connect with women who are already leaders in their respective fields,” she says. "I hope to live up to the high standard set by the previous winners."
As María Luisa Ruiz notes, Torres and Vanderveen also carry on a legacy—one initiated by Brother Camillus Chavez half a century ago. “They stand as a testament to the enduring impact of compassion, empathy, and solidarity in shaping a brighter future for all,” she says.
“In the words of Br. Camillus, ‘Every day, we get better and better.’”
Hayden Royster is staff writer with the Office of Marketing and Communications. Jordan Sapp is a graduate editorial fellow. Write them.
