Alum of the Month

SEPTEMBER: MEET OSCAR DANIEL BAHENA

In his junior and senior years at Steinmetz Career Academy, Oscar Bahena participated in every Mikva program he could - the Youth Innovation Fund (now the Education Council), Elections in Action campaign program, Issues to Action, Student Judge project, and Student Government and Leadership Institute. Whew!

As Oscar told us, "Mikva Challenge was definitely the best experience I had during high school.  I got to meet new people and experience new things I otherwise wouldn't have." Oscar was especially proud of helping to create lasting policy change for Chicago youth through his leadership in YIF. Mike Altman, one of Oscar's teachers at Steinmetz, observed that "although Oscar was very reserved in the beginning, he blossomed through his participation in the Mikva programs."   

Oscar believes that the skills he acquired through Mikva propelled him to continue his advocacy work at college.  Currently, Oscar is pursuing a double major in Animal Science and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He serves as the Puerto Rican Representative on the Multi-Cultural Council and is the Founder and Vice-President of the Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. on his campus. Incredibly, Oscar has also found time to start his own organization: Latinos United for Mutual Brotherhood, Respect, and Empowerment (L.U.M.B.R.E.), which aims to promote the retention of minority male students at U of W and educate the greater Madison community about the diversity of students on campus.

In the future, Oscar hopes to become a practicing veterinarian at his own clinic. We have no doubt that this young leader is destined for great things!