Each year the Association of Native Alumni at the University of Pennsylvania select one student to receive the Student Leadership Award. This year the organization selected Keturah Peters, senior in the nursing school, as this year’s recipient.

Each year, this award recognizes a Native student for demonstrating leadership, exemplifying excellence, and promoting diversity at UPenn through sudent activities or community services.

ANA presented Keturah with the prestigious award on April 6, 2018.

Keturah closed out the awards ceremony with a few words and an insightful quote that’s served her well over the years and that she hoped others would carry with them.

“Your ancestors did not survive everything that nearly ended them for you to shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable. This sacrifice is your warcry, be loud, be everything and make them proud.” – Nikita Gill

Founded in 2006, ANA promotes the interests and welfare of Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native alumni, fosters the renewal of old friendships and development of new ones, and furthers Penn’s commitment to the advancement of Native American higher education.