Congratulations to Westfield State’s 2020-21 Blue Key Award Winners.
The Blue Key Award is the highest honor given to WSU students by WSU students. This award is based solely on extracurricular involvement within student groups, athletic teams, honor societies, and other areas that involve student leadership opportunities.
This year’s five recipients — Jenna DeLisi ’21, Thalita Neves ’21, Madison Gage ’22, Jankaleishka Burgos Cruz ’23, and Rosita Ramirez ’23 — were selected for their high level of involvement and leadership in student clubs, organizations, and affinity groups.
DeLisi majored in communication with concentrations in media art analysis and broadcast journalism. She served as an anchor for NewsWise video content, and an editor, graphics designer, camera operator, teleprompter, and producer. She was a devoted member of the Ely television studio on campus. Check out her video featuring WSU Communication Department alumni: https://youtu.be/TNZcqGcl0kU
Neves graduated with a double major in criminal justice and communication with a concentration in public relations. As the University’s Student Trustee for two years, Neves was a voting member of the University’s Board of Trustees with a goal to engage and represent as many of her fellow students as possible. She was also a member of the Presidential Search Committee which recommended President-elect Linda Thompson and participated in her election.
Gage is a nursing major and president of the University’s Nursing Club. She has promoted a sense of community within her major and started a mentoring program for her fellow future nurses.
Burgos Cruz is majoring in psychology with minors in writing and art. She served as editor of the Westfield Voice online student publication and launched a column titled “The Color of Silence: A Column about Race,” to encourage students to share their experiences with racism on campus, either experienced or witnessed. She provided a safe outlet for spreading awareness of these sensitive campus issues. Visit the Instagram page @thecolorofsilence.westfield.
Ramirez, a double major in chemistry and biology, is a peer writing consultant. Dedicated to making the campus more inclusive, she helped create a video that documented the experiences of multilingual students on campus. This work helped spread awareness about the need to support all students.
Liz Ferrara ’21 served as chair of the 2020-21 Blue Key Award Committee and contributed content for this article.