---
title: ‘The Very Best of What It Means to Be a Terp’
date: 2024-05-15T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/the-very-best-of-what-it-means-to-be-a-terp"
section: Articles
---
# ‘The Very Best of What It Means to Be a Terp’

*May 15, 2024* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> 5 Graduating Seniors Honored as Medalist, Finalists Recognized for Stellar Academics, Service, Character

*Camila Soler University Medalist 04222024 RS 0532 1920x1080 — Camila Soler '24, a criminology and criminal justice and psychology double major, is the 2024 recipient of UMD's University Medal.*

After Camila Soler’s grandfather was forced to flee armed conflict in Peru in the 1990s, the once-successful metallurgical engineer found few options to provide for his family upon arriving in California. He became a gardener, a grueling job made even tougher by the discrimination he endured—including assault and the burning of his work truck—and the fear of police that kept him from reporting the crimes.

“My passion for immigration law stems from hearing that story,” said Soler ’24, who is heading to law school in the fall to pursue her dream of providing free and affordable representation for immigrants, and to research and reform policies. “I want to help families in similar situations, who have very valid fears, who don’t know their rights.”

Her dedication to public service is one reason Soler will receive the 2024 University Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a graduating senior. The award recognizes academic achievement, service to the community and exceptional character. Finalists (profiled below) earned at least a 3.96 GPA and 60 or more credits during their undergraduate career at UMD.

A [criminology and criminal justice](https://ccjs.umd.edu/) (CCJS) and [psychology](https://psyc.umd.edu/) double major, Soler earned a 4.0 GPA while joining the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta; getting selected for the CCJS Honors Program, where she conducted original research; and interning at the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program and an immigration law firm in Houston.

In addition, she helped found the student group Latina Pathways, now a registered nonprofit. Through education, advocacy and fundraising, it supports Latine immigrants on the path to college, including donating classroom supplies to high school ESOL classes and creating a scholarship for undocumented Terps.

“Higher education opens so many doors,” said Soler, who is Peruvian and Colombian. “I want the Latine community—and other underserved or marginalized communities—to have equal opportunities.”

Growing up in six countries due to her father’s engineering job gives Soler a unique perspective on being an outsider. She’s directed the empathy and appreciation for different cultures she gained to making others feel welcome at UMD, including serving as a Maryland Images tour guide for the university and sharing openly about a visual disability to reduce stigma and encourage others to get the accommodations they need.

“Her ability to organically incorporate these parts of her identity … helped to create a more inclusive and welcoming classroom environment,” said English Lecturer John Kim, who invited Soler to be a teaching assistant after she took his legal writing class. “She represents the very best of what it means to be a Terp.”


## Finalists


*Headshot of Giuse Pham*



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*Headshot of Jaydia Fomengia*



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*Kentiera Wood headshot*



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*Jack Yang headshot*



**Sidebar note:**

The University of Maryland will celebrate August 2023, December 2023 and May 2024 graduates at the annual campuswide Commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday at SECU Stadium. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will deliver the commencement address.

For details on the program, speaker bios, individual ceremony information for colleges and schools, and information on parking and accommodations, visit [commencement.umd.edu](http://commencement.umd.edu/).





**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering), [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences), [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)