Jacob C., 20, has devoted countless hours to helping others. For example, he has worked extensively with Snowflake, a program for seventh- and eighth-graders at Old Orchard Junior High School that instructs them on making sound decisions in life; in fact, 2005 marks his ninth consecutive year of involvement. At Niles West High, Jacob was vice-president of the school’s gay-straight alliance.
Jacob’s work with the LGBT community has continued into college. At Loyola University, he was secretary of the school’s Rainbow Connection from 2003-’04. (During the 2003-’04 school year, Jacob received an award from the Response Center for demonstrating outstanding humanitarian spirit.) Since transferring to Northeastern Illinois University, he has become secretary of the school’s GLBT association. He also organized the university’s first Pride Week as well as its first Day of Silence; in addition, he helped coordinate the 2004 Coming Out Ball. He also has been secretary/historian of GLSEN Chicago’s youth committee, helping plan youth summits and the Night of Noise rally. In addition, he became one of the founders of the Rho Chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda Fraternity, the nation’s largest co-ed Latino-interest fraternity. As if that was not enough, Jacob presented a workshop at the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Allied College Conference in St. Cloud, Minn.