Fevidaury Valerio Arias is one of two Hostos Students to receive the 2014 CUNY Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award. An aspiring registered nurse, Fevidaury embodies the dedication and quality of character needed to excel in her chosen field.

The awards are presented to students who are selected by the chief student affairs officers on each CUNY campus. Students receiving a Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or better and have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in both academic and co-curricular activities.

Born in Salcedo, Dominican Republic, the 21-year-old has been passionate about helping others through medicine since she was a child. After leaving the Dominican Republic for good with her family at 17, she knew her dream was getting closer.

In spring of 2010, Fevidaury began her studies at Bronx Community College, taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. By spring of 2011, she was a Liberal Arts and Science major at Hostos Community College.

But on her way to becoming a nurse, Fevidaury also became a leader. She joined the Hostos Student Leadership Academy’s Emerging Leaders Program in fall of 2012 and was quickly promoted to the Hostos Student Ambassador program.

Her leadership positions at Hostos have been numerous and impressive. Fevidaury has served as a member of the CUNY Ernesto Malave Leadership Academy’s CUNY Corps program (2013 – 2014) and represented Hostos through various public service initiatives.

Fevidaury even made her presence felt at the nation’s capital last year when she participated in the National Model United Nations in Washington, D.C., as a Hostos delegate.

If that wasn’t enough, she has also served as:
  • chair of the Fridays Ambassador Workshops;
  • a Phi Thetta Kappa member in one of the world’s largest Honor Society;
  • the Vice- President of Academic Services of the Alpha Kappa Tau Chapter;
  • the Hostos Student Government Association Vice-President of Academic Affairs/Chair of Senate;
  • the Vice- President of the Hostos Criminal Justice Club;
  • a Committee Member in the College Wide Senate and Curriculum Committee on Campus, and also as one of two delegates in the University Student Senate (USS) representing Hostos.
Aside from these accomplishments, awards and accolades, she also made time to assist students who are visually impaired. Fevidaury has worked at the Hostos Accessibility Center since September of 2013, taking notes for her fellow students so they can be transcribed into braille. The Center supports students with various disabilities so they can be successful in college and beyond.

After Hostos, Fevidaury will continue her pursuit of a four-year degree in the hopes of working as a registered nurse.