By Jenny Farley

Our own American Red Cross volunteer Ava Arteaga has a lot to celebrate. A recent graduate of Temple University, she now has become a Fulbright Scholar, the recipient of one of the most prestigious fellowships in the world.

“The application was a year-long process and took hundreds of hours, and I didn’t know if it would amount to the result I wanted. To accomplish something of this magnitude is surreal,” she said.

Ava started volunteering for the Red Cross two years ago at a Sound the Alarm event and found her perfect fit when she became a communications volunteer.

“I enjoy writing blogs because I’m able to write about all kinds of topics. It’s a mixture of education, reporting and sometimes stories about my first-hand experience,” she said.

During her time at Temple, she volunteered as a Blood Program Leader who organized blood drives and fostered a relationship between the Red Cross and Temple’s UNICEF chapter, “establishing a tradition of holding a blood drive each semester.” She said, “This is something I’m very proud of because its impact will persist long after my graduation.”

Although she was nervous at first to donate blood herself, she now is a regular donor, helped by the skilled Red Cross phlebotomists who eased her fears.

“I became a blood donor because I became aware of the blood shortage across the nation and learned how critical blood donations are for helping people with health conditions.”

Ava’s favorite part about volunteering for the Red Cross is “being able to contribute to the health and safety of our communities. It’s a privilege to play even a small role for a major impact,” she said.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Ava will be moving to the United Kingdom where she will pursue her master’s degree, studying the stigma that people with addiction face in the way they are portrayed by digital news media.

For now, she’s making each day count with her family until the big move. “We have been celebrating by spending as much time together as possible, soaking up our time together before I leave.”

Congratulations Ava! The Red Cross is proud of you!