Governor Honors Local Student

Article, info, and text provided by Governor Patrick's Office: 

Governor Patrick honored student Leticia Rodrigues do Prado of Malden at the annual “29 Who Shine” Awards at the State House last week. 

As a child in Brazil, Leticia Rodrigues do Prado experienced life in poverty without much family support. In 2007, at the age of 15, she was given the task of raising her younger brother and providing for their household while her mother traveled to the U.S. to find work. Leticia worked two jobs while going to school and providing care for her sibling. Two years later, she and her brother joined their mother in Malden.

Although she had completed high school in Brazil, Leticia was placed as a junior at Malden High. Initially devastated to learn that she faced an additional two years of high school, Leticia signed up for the Dual Enrollment Program which allowed her to take classes at Bunker Hill Community College and graduate from high school in just one year.

Continuing on at BHCC, Leticia has thrived as a student and as a leader. She has served as President of the Brazilian Club, a member of the Women’s Soccer Team, Orientation Mentor, Student Government Representative to the BHCC College Forum, and Vice President of Service for Phi Theta Kappa. In fall 2011, Leticia was one of two students nominated to the USA Today All-USA Academic Team. This year she was named a 2012 Coca Cola Silver Scholar based on her academic achievements and GPA of 3.84.

Leticia also works 15 hours per week as a Statistics Tutor at Bunker Hill and volunteers on weekends at Children’s Hospital in Boston. She plans to attend a 4-year college or university and ultimately hopes to earn her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She would like to work at a community organization serving children in need.

"Leticia’s story reminds us all of the power of education to transform lives," said Governor Deval Patrick. "Investing in them is exactly how we invent a brighter future for Massachusetts."

Students was honored at a State House ceremony attended by Governor Patrick, state education officials, campus presidents, faculty and students.  Each of Massachusetts’ 29 public college and university campuses selected its own honoree for the 29 Who Shine awards based on criteria established by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.  Students were required to be residents of Massachusetts who had a strong academic record and a history of civic engagement.

Among this year’s honorees were five veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the first female African American firefighter in the city of Holyoke’s history, and an aspiring physician who designed and opened a free medical clinic for African immigrants in Worcester.

The 29 Who Shine also include students who have co-founded environmental organizations; created community art and prison writing projects; and conducted research to inform the treatment of both hearing loss and childhood obesity.