UW-Stevens Point MBA student Lada Xiong-Vang is leaving a positive impact on her community for future generations by applying what she is learning as a graduate student to economic development projects in Wausau.
Lada is a true community leader with roles in the Central Wisconsin Hmong Professionals organization and the Diversity Affairs Commission of Marathon County where she strives to achieve racial and ethnic equity and advocate for minority populations.
Lada’s kindness and servant leadership has helped move Wausau toward greater vibrancy as she fosters cross-cultural understanding and embraces diversity.
For her dedication and selfless efforts, Lada was awarded the 2021 College of Professional Studies Heroes Award.
The Heroes Award is a $1,000 scholarship created initially through an endowment in honor of Casey Gazdik, a health promotion/wellness major, who died in 2001 from the rare lung infection of blastomycosis. Now, the award is funded through Casey’s fund and other generous donations from people who wish to honor their own hero.
This year’s award is given in honor of:
- David Hurlbut
- Joe and Leanne Sanks
- Bill and CC Nuck
- Jim Shafranski
- Kamil Mahdi
- Hans Vetter