Caldwell Graduate Knows Students Can Move Mountains
Barbie Vergel knows that Caldwell College students can move mountains. She experienced that first-hand this year when her team of Caldwell College students surpassed their goal of $12,000.00 and raised over $20,000.00 to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee. Vergel, from Fairview, New Jersey graduated May 18 from Caldwell College with a Bachelor's in Communication Arts and she says being a part of the St. Jude fundraising effort was one of the most memorable experiences of her college career. "We moved mountains in our own little way."
As President and Executive Director of the College's campaign for St. Jude, Vergel led a team of 14 "E-board" (executive board members) students who galvanized other students on campus in numerous fundraising efforts including letter writing, cheesecake sales, benefit nights at Fuddrucker's and Friendly's, t-shirt sales and a final Up Til Dawn lock-in event. Last summer, Vergel had the opportunity to go to Memphis and see some of the children who benefit from St. Jude's. "It is a beautiful thing when you get to see people you are helping."
Vergel was awarded the Trustee Recognition Award from the Caldwell College Board of Trustees. The award is given to a member of the senior class who has developed his or her own giftedness in a singular way during the time at Caldwell College, who has shared those gifts generously in behalf of others, and who gives evidence of the potential to communicate Caldwell's Christian values to others as the future unfolds.
In addition to the St. Jude's experience, Vergel said one of her most memorable experiences at Caldwell was in 2006 when she took part in the Summer Study Program to Fanjeaux, France for Dominican Colleges and Universities. The trip brings together faculty, administrators, students and staff from U.S. Dominican schools in Fanjeaux, the medieval hilltop town where St. Dominic's vision of an order devoted to seeking and sharing the truth took shape from 1206 to 1216.
A residence assistant for three years in the Caldwell dorms, she said that job "helped me become a strong person, because it is hard to stand up to your peers."
Vergel interned her senior year with 1st Impression Communications and its owner Marlene Waldock. She wrote press releases, did marketing and helped put together the women's empowerment workshop Because We Are Women. She sees the power of effective public relations and hopes to use her communications background combined with her St. Jude community service experience to make a difference in her life's work. And then she will surely be "moving mountains."