Evenny Peralta ’23: My future endeavor is to contribute to a just society and make a difference in individuals’ lives

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Sociology, minor in Criminal Justice 

Hometown: Hackensack, New Jersey 

Honors convocation awards: Evenny received three honors at convocation: the prestigious Trustee Recognition Award, the St. Catherine of Alexandria Medal and the Advocate in Action Award. The Trustee Recognition Award is given to a member of the senior class who has developed his or her own giftedness in a singular way while at Caldwell University, who has shared those gifts generously on behalf of others and who gives evidence of the potential to communicate Caldwell’s mission and core values to others as the future unfolds.

We asked Evenny about her plans and how she believes Caldwell University has prepared her for those future endeavors.   

What’s next? I recently accepted a position with the YWCA Northern New Jersey as outreach assistant. It will allow me to continue outreach and social service. My future endeavor is to contribute to a just society and make a difference in individuals’ lives. 

How has Caldwell prepared you for your next steps?
Caldwell has prepared me for the next steps by providing me with leadership opportunities that included working with faculty, staff, students and administration. Caldwell has always encouraged me to be true to who I am and allowed me to bring my passion for advocacy, social service and education to life. I want to thank the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department. They were so supportive, wonderful people: Dr. Yang Cai, Dr. Lena Campagna, Professor Theresa Riboli. I’ve had great mentors on this campus.  Everyone in Student Life has been such a mentor to me.  

What has been the best part of your experience as a student at Caldwell University? The opportunities to develop my own ideas and the support from faculty and staff to blossom as an individual. I came here on a mission to find myself and grow, and this university has given me the opportunity to do that. With everyone’s support on campus, I have become a person who has found her passion for education and social service. I plan to implement both of those passions into my future endeavors. 

Favorite spot on Caldwell’s campus? My new favorite spot I found this year is the SOAR (Student Outreach and Academic Resources) Center. Anytime I get to sit there and think, it allows me to collect my thoughts. It is a very peaceful environment.  

Other Caldwell highlights? I’ve had quite a few jobs on campus. I loved being an orientation leader; it was such a great opportunity. I’ve been a peer educator my whole time here at Caldwell; it has been an eye-opening experience. I also worked in the bookstore, which was a really good, fun job. I’ve been part of the development of the Social Justice Symposium, [which was] ground-breaking. It was great to say that I was part of that. I had the wonderful chance to develop what we now call the International Women’s Day panel.