Cosmopolitan Club Service Award: Lakshmi Yanamadala

At the award presentation, Professor Susan Taylor, President of the Cosmopolitan Club Board, related how Lakshmi was the originator and force behind the Cosmopolitan Club's Beckwith Outreach Program, started last fall. The Beckwith Living Center is a University residential facility for severely physically challenged students. Lakshmi has worked at the Beckwith Living Center for the past two years and felt that there was a need for international programing at Beckwith.

By working with Andrea Shields, our Club Coordinator, and Gordon Liao, a member of the Illini Union Board, Lakshmi brought a cultural program to Beckwith each month. These included: (1) native dances from the Philippines by the Philippine Student Association; (2) Latino dances by Eliana Manero's dance students at La Casa Cultural Latina; (3) a slide show of Great Britain and Italy by Cosmo Club Residents Pratik Singh and Philip Fanapour; and (4) a lecture-demonstration on meditation as a relaxation technique by Shu Fen Chen. Each program featured foods and snacks paid for by the Illini Union Board.

Lakshmi is also an active club member, helping with weekly Thursday evening coffee hours, new international student receptions, and other Cosmo events. She is known for her generosity of spirit and warm heart. With a big smile for everyone and a sincere interest in others, Lakshmi epitomizes the Cosmo volunteer. Working hard to serve the interests and needs of others and giving of time and talents freely are just some of the attributes that made her an easy choice for this year's award.

Lakshmi notes that working at Beckwith and working with the Cosmo Club have been besides her studies two of her greatest experiences at the U of I. "I make very quick decisions," Lakshmi says of herself, "and I don't wait too long to come to a conclusion about anything. When I first started working at Beckwith, I knew that it was the place for me."

Lakshmi states that working at Beckwith has been an educational experience for her. She enjoys it more than other types of work because it involves interacting with people rather than things. Beckwith has provided her, as an international student, the opportunity to learn about American culture. The Cosmo Club has provided her with the opportunity to learn about many other cultures as well.

Lakshmi will be graduating with a Master's Degree in Forestry this year. We wish her the very best. Although she will move on to other places and experiences, she will always be a part of the Cosmopolitan Club family.