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Two Drew University students named Rising Stars by NJ Business & Industry Association
Chekwube Okunowo C’24 and Kareena Salvi C’23 recognized for their passion, dedication
September 2022: Two Drew University students have won Rising Star Awards from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA).
Chekwube Okunowo C’24 and Kareena Salvi C’23 were two of five college students chosen by the NJBIA for having “demonstrated passion for their careers, academic success and commitment to volunteerism in their communities during their undergraduate careers.” by NJBIA.
The students were honored in person earlier this month at the 8th Annual New Jersey Women in Business Forum in Atlantic City.
“This award is extremely special to me because it has shown me that my work and contributions to the Drew community, the American community and even my Nigerian community are being seen and recognized,” he said. said Okunowo, a major in international relations and economics and economics. law, justice and double minor society.
“This recognition demonstrates the strong will with which I grew up and is an example of not giving up on your dreams and ambitions for the future,” added Salvi, who has a degree in political science and Spanish, dance and law, justice and society. triple minor “Receiving this award has helped me look back at the true inner spark that ignites whenever I pursue my passions to advocate for underrepresented voices.”
Both students reflected on how Drew has prepared them for their futures where, not surprisingly, they both seek to be leaders and agents of change.
Okunowo plans to pursue a career in foreign service after earning a law degree or master’s degree in foreign service and gaining experience working with NGOs and human rights groups. It has relied on Drew’s New York semester on the United Nations as a launching pad.
“The United Nations program is one of the opportunities that provide me with the transferable skills and knowledge needed to realize my goals,” she said. “I have already learned a lot about the UN and the world of foreign service from Carlos Yordan [associate professor of international relations and director of the New York Semester on the United Nations] and guest speakers, including diplomats.”
He added, “Drew, through classes, organizations, faculty, and community, has provided so many opportunities as an institution that have helped me grow and learn. Through this opportunity with NJBIA, I hope to meet a network of amazing leaders that will help me further on the path to achieving my personal, academic and professional goals.”
Salvi plans to pursue a master’s degree and a doctorate in political science, focusing on racial politics in the US. Afterwards, he hopes to work for an NGO or civil and human rights advocacy group similar to the Sikh Coalition.
“My experience at Drew helped elevate me toward my goals through programs like UN Semester and Barcelona shortTREC,” she said.
“Having also served as student government president and served on the Racial Justice and Diversity and Inclusion Committee, all of these experiences helped push me into spaces and networks that helped guide me toward my ambitions. L “Drew’s experience provided me with opportunities and space to finally make decisions about my future and create a path for the Kareena I wanted to define, become and admire.”
