Isabella Pereira ’25, a communication and journalism double major, has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to campus life with the Kenneth Joseph Hines ’04 Memorial Award.

An international student from Venezuela who also lived in Mexico and Chile, Pereira chose Denison because of its nationally recognized communications program and competitive acceptance rate. “There was no better place to challenge me academically,” she said.

On The Hill, Pereira is a Spanish teaching assistant, a lifeguard at the Trumbull Aquatics Center, and co-president of Denison’s Latin American dance group, Sazón. During an internship with The Reporting Project, Denison’s online news source, Pereira discovered a passion for making mini-documentaries.

“It has been an amazing ride,” she said, “learning all about Licking County and sharpening my multimedia storytelling skills.”

Pereira studied abroad in Prague, where she interned at the British Chamber of Commerce, became a student ambassador for the Council on International Exchange, and volunteered as an English teacher’s assistant.

Her post-graduation plans are undecided, as she is planning to dive into social media marketing or journalism multimedia reporting.

“But my goal,” she said, “is to help the community anywhere I go by telling stories that matter and help bring change.”

About the Kenneth Joseph Hines ‘04 Memorial Award

The Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement oversees the annual selection for the Kenneth Joseph Hines ‘04 Memorial Award. The recognition, which comes with a financial award, was created through gifts from alums, family, and friends to honor the memory of Hines, who had a keen interest in diversity, serving others, leadership, and making positive contributions to the Denison community. The award seeks to recognize a student who embodies these qualities.

April 10, 2024