2010 Hero of the Year: Roshawn Ceja, Enrollment Advisor
"It's hard for me to sit back and do nothing," says Ashford University Enrollment Advisor Roshawn Ceja. "If I'm not helping others, I don’t really feel alive."
When talking to Roshawn, her passion for volunteering is readily apparent. It is a desire that was passed down from Roshawn's adoptive mother. A lifelong humanitarian, Roshawn's mother would frequently take in people off the streets, offering food, shelter and clothing to the neediest members of society.
Following her mother's example, Roshawn has been helping others for as long as she can remember. Through her church, she has taken part in numerous missions to Mexico. She has brought food and clothing to poor families south of the border and has even helped to build houses. Roshawn's other volunteer efforts include feeding the homeless and collecting shoes for San Diego’s Monarch School, an educational institution for homeless and at-risk children.
All of these activities helped to prepare Roshawn for the volunteer campaign she embarked upon in 2010. In July, Roshawn took off on a trip to Haiti, the small Caribbean nation that was devastated by a massive earthquake earlier in the year. She was deeply affected by what she saw.
"The whole place is leveled," Roshawn reports. "There's no infrastructure, no government. Conditions are horrible. You’ll see seven-story buildings that have been flattened to the size of a one-story building. It's the most upsetting thing you’ll ever see."
Working with the Child Hope International charity in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, Roshawn pitched in on many different fronts. She assisted with building houses and helped with Child Hope's feeding program. She also spent a great deal of time working in Child Hope's orphanage, Maison de Lumiere (The Lighthouse), caring for some of the hundreds of thousands of orphans in Haiti.
"These children are living in abject poverty. Many of them were living on the streets," Roshawn says. "They don't get a lot of affection. Just spending time with these kids makes a big difference."
Roshawn also credits her Ashford team for being extremely supportive of her Haiti endeavor. Many of her work colleagues donated money for the trip. They also brought in clothes and shoes to take to the people of Haiti.
For all that she has done for others, Roshawn was named the Bridgepoint Hero of the Year for 2010. The award is bestowed annually to honor the employee volunteer who logs the most hours of volunteer work each year. Along with the award, Roshawn also received a $1,000 donation made in her name to the non-profit of her choice. Roshawn selected Child Hope International as the beneficiary and they will use the money to continue to assist the displaced children of Haiti.