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History Community Builder

In the spring of 2020, our Department established a History Community Builder Award to recognize Rutgers-Newark and NJIT History and Law, Technology, and Culture majors and minors who contribute to the betterment of our communities, at both the department and university level.

2020 Awardees


Rutgers University-Newark

photo of tonanzhit aguas

Tonanziht Aguas
Double Major: Economics and Political Science
Minor: History

Quote from Nominator:
"Tonanziht works tirelessly to support student organizations that help the student body. She is willing to gather resources relating to pre-law internships and scholarships and share it with peers, attend events sponsored by different Rutgers departments, and actively participate in well-known student organizations (Pre-Law society, SGA, RUDreamers, College Democrats)... She has done so much for this campus and they are sure that as a senator for SGA, she would continue to contribute to the community."

photo of angie ruiz

Angie Ruiz
Major: History
Minors: Social Justice and Urban Teacher Education (UTEP)

Quote from Nominator: 
Angie is "a leader in the community...part of HLLC, an e-board member for RU Dreamers, and a Legal Professions Learning Community scholar. She uses her understanding of communities like Newark and Elizabeth to bring their perspective into debate rounds. She is also a volunteer for Make the Road NJ, an organization that advocates for worker and immigrant rights, and she has always supported her peers in class or in pre-law track responsibilities."

New Jersey Institute of Technology

photo of paul bosin

Paul Bosin

Major: Currently enrolled in the BS/MBA program with an undergraduate major in Concrete Industry Management
Minors:  Legal Studies, Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Quote from Nominator:
Nominated by five of his fellow students, who had great things to say about him, including: “Paul is without a doubt the most positive uplifting person I have met on the NJIT campus. He consistently demonstrates initiative but also puts forth the brighter side of NJIT life. It is no secret that NJIT is academically challenging and this can be less than motivating at times. Paul has gone out of his way with no benefit towards himself to help out his fellow students.”

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Katie Demottie
Double Major:  History and Law, Technology, and Culture (LTC)


Quote from Nominator:
Nominated by a fellow student who said, “Katie was always an email away with any question I had concerning classes. She also recommended professors she had personally taken. She made settling into my major a whole lot easier and I really appreciate her for that. I think every LTC freshman should talk to her.  She’s Vice President of the Pre-Law Society this year.”

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Alahna Diaz
Double Major:  Biology and Law, Technology, and Culture (LTC)

Quote from Nominator:
Nominated by a fellow student who said, “Although Alahna is graduating and physically leaving campus, her legacy of inclusion and kindheartedness will be carried out through the Highlander Community for years to come due to the number of people she has touched during her three years in Newark.”

photo of samantha miccio

Samantha Miccio
Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minors: Legal Studies and Manufacturing Engineering Technology

Quote from Nominator:
Nominated by a fellow student who said: “Samantha has been a part of the NJIT Hillel Organization as president. She continues to make strides towards making NJIT a better place for the Jewish community.”

photo of victoria nguyen

Victoria Nguyen
Double Major:  History and Law, Technology, and Culture (LTC)
Minors: Global Studies

Quote from Nominator:
Nominated by a fellow student who said, “When I first started as a freshman, I reached out to Victoria and she scheduled a date for us to meet so that she could answer all the questions I had about the LTC major. She made the transition into my specific department easy as she suggested professors I should take and also personally invited me to join the Pre-Law Society, of which she is the president this year.”