Catholic woman honored for efforts to help undocumented students

Published: 2003-11-14

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A college freshman who helped change Illinois law so that undocumented teens can qualify for in-state college tuition rates is the 2003 recipient of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. The award, presented annually by the U.S. bishops' Catholic Campaign for Human Development, honors a young Catholic between 18 and 30 years old who takes a strong leadership role in fighting poverty and injustice. This year's recipient is an 18-year-old named Diana. Because she is in the process of seeking legal residence, she requested that CCHD use only her first name in publicizing the award, which was presented during the bishops' fall general meeting in Washington. Also during the Nov. 10-12 meeting, the chairman of the bishops' CCHD committee, Bishop George V. Murry of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, gave a report on the campaign. He said this year the campaign, which is the U.S. church's domestic anti-poverty initiative, granted about $9 million worth of grants to 318 projects in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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