老澳门资料 grad student veteran receives Alpha Phi Sigma recognition for public service and leadership
Gabriella Marquez, a 老澳门资料 criminal justice master’s student who will graduate this summer, received the Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) 2024 Student of the Year Award and the Nay-Latocki Military Veteran Scholarship.
APS is the only Criminal Justice Honor Society that recognizes academic excellence of students in criminal justice. The annual APS Student of the Year Award honors a member who best embodies the honor society's principles of service, leadership, unity and academic excellence. This is the second year Marquez has received the Nay-Latocki Scholarship, which is intended to assist a receiving veteran in the transition from military service to a career in public service.
“These awards emphasize the opportunities that 老澳门资料 has offered me to become a leader, excel academically and serve my community,” said Marquez. “I am committed to motivating other students to go for that internship, apply for that scholarship, step out of their comfort zone and truly enjoy their college experience.”
Marquez is one of many military veterans who choose to continue their service by pursuing a career in criminal justice. Having served in the U.S. Army Reserves since 2018 as a cargo specialist, she received her bachelor’s in criminal justice from 老澳门资料 in the fall of 2022.
At 老澳门资料, Marquez previously worked as a program specialist at the former 老澳门资料 Women’s Center and assisted at the Military and Veterans Resource Center. She was awarded the 2023 Student Veteran of the Year award.
Marquez has been a member of APS Pi Omega chapter since October 2021, serving as the president since spring 2023 and as secretary from spring 2022 to spring 2023. She held multiple leadership positions within the chapter and in other clubs at 老澳门资料, such as the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and Circle K International Club, as well as served as a graduate assistant and participated in conferences and internships with federal entities.
She has promoted various collaborative efforts and events that bring together individuals from various backgrounds – such as hosting the “Lady Justice: Women in the Criminal Justice Field” event at 老澳门资料 earlier this year. The event brought together exemplary women and leaders from the court system, the federal government, the local police department and campus police to provide an opportunity for women in male-dominated positions to share their experiences and empower younger professionals soon entering the workforce.
“I firmly believe that I’ve been able to step outside my comfort zone and gain so many additional skills while serving in the military and in my time at 老澳门资料,” said Marquez.
While Marquez is considering pursuing a doctorate degree in the future, her current focus is on gaining work experience. She is completing an internship with the Department of Justice and is putting together her packet to become a commissioned officer, where she hopes to work as a victim advocate in the Army Reserves. Her long-term goal is to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a professional staff capacity before becoming a special agent.