Congratulations to nursing Bachelor of Science graduate Eliah Perez for receiving the Georgia State University Kell Award at Fall Commencement. Originally from Israel, Perez is an active leader in her community away from campus. Working for Jewish Kids Groups (JKG), Perez has been involved in coordinating and teaching in their Sunday school programs for the past five years. JKG provides a variety of programs for children from 6 months through 7th grade. Perez says her colleagues at JKG feel like family.
“They all came to support me at my pinning ceremony. [It] was so emotional,” she said.
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Perez has also established a charitable organization, Project 12:30, which provides lunches for children in need. Though her education has been her top priority, she hopes to give the organization more attention now.
“I look forward to continuing to grow the project and serving more children in my immediate community,” Perez said. “Now that I am out of school, I can focus more energy into funding and expanding the organization. I do this on the side out of love.”
Nursing faculty praised Perez’s critical thinking skills and ability to identify with her patients.
“Eliah’s depth of knowledge and intellectual curiosity immediately stood out to me,” said Dr. Stephan Davis, clinical assistant professor of nursing. “She served as a model for her peers given her unique ability to demonstrate an empathic understanding of patients and the plurality of the human experience. Eliah is most deserving of this award, not only because of her academic performance but because of her commitment to improving the health and well-being of all people.”
Perez is preparing for the NCLEX (nursing licensure examination) and plans to return to Georgia State in the future for nursing graduate studies. Her goal is to become a nurse practitioner, specializing in either pediatrics or midwifery.
The Kell Award is presented at commencement to the senior or seniors with the highest grade point average for all coursework taken at Georgia State University. Perez and two students from the College of Arts and Sciences received the Fall 2018 award.