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UST Selects Mardi Gras King and Queen
2/16/2009
 Selected as exemplary models of the University’s mission to educate leaders of faith and character, UST seniors Thomas Mendez and Cimela Kidonakis will reign as this year’s Mardi Gras King and Queen at the 2009 Mardi Gras Gala “A Night in Rio,” on Tuesday, February 24.
In their role as the “royal couple,” Mendez and Kidonakis will carry on the time-honored tradition, and have the opportunity to express their gratitude for scholarship contributions on behalf of the student body.
Mendez, an International Studies major, Spanish and Latin American and Latino Studies minor, has a varied history of University service and leadership. Mendez served as president and a founding member of the Center for International Studies MicroCredit Program, vice president of the Student Government Association, president and co-founder of the Student Organization of Latinos, a student worker in the Office of Volunteer Opportunities, and a Residence Assistant. He is a recipient of the Presidential Leadership Award, the Emerging Leadership Award, the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to Buenos Aires Argentina. Mendez is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, the National Honor Society for International studies and Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society.
“The scholarship monies that I have received from UST have enabled me to attend the University and avoid a considerable student debt upon graduation,” Mendez said. “It is an honor to represent UST students who have benefited from the generous support of the Fr. Francis E. Monaghan Scholarship Fund. UST has provided me so many opportunities, and I look forward to sharing the evening of the Mardi Gras Gala with the generous donors who helped make my experience at UST possible.”
Kidonakis, a communication major, theology and Spanish minor, has shown her dedication to the University by remaining active in numerous areas of campus life.
Kidonakis has been part of the Residence Life staff for three years holding several leadership positions including sophomore advisor, residence assistant and area coordinator. She has served as a Doherty Library reference assistant, lector at the Chapel of St. Basil, a FOCUS team leader, an officer for the Council of Clubs and a member of the tennis club. She also teaches adult ESL on the weekends. You can catch Kidonakis at UST athletic events, cheering on the crowds and creating school spirit. As a communication major, she has helped create a number of projects to benefit the University including the MicroCredit video shown at the second annual MicroCredit Dum Spiro fundraiser. She has also recently completed work on the a public service announcement for the continuous Bible-Reading event, “The Word of God: The Bible Unites.”
“I feel extremely honored and excited to be selected as a student representative for this time-honored tradition which helps raises money for scholarships,” Kidonakis said. “As a Fr. Francis E Monaghan scholarship recipient, I am so very grateful to those people who give to the University. I have also studied abroad to Argentina, Mexico, and Italy through the University, and the scholarships I recieved from generous donors helped differ the costs for these wonderful experiences. The Madi Gras Gala is a great opportunity to express how much I appreciate the opportunities those scholarships have provided me.”
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