Belén Berdegué is a junior biomedical engineering major with a minor in mathematics.  Upon graduating from A&M, Belén will go to med school following the steps of her grandfather, his father, and his grandfather. Her dream is to practice social medicine in a developing country anywhere in the world where her expertise may be needed.

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​Belén has done extensive volunteer work in Bolivia, most notably her work at the Children’s Hospital in La Paz during the summers of 2010 and 2011 where she was exposed to the extreme precariousness with which care is provided to the underprivileged from a logistic standpoint, as well as to complex medical procedures, including surgery and others.  In fact, the experience of her first summer at the Hospital del Niño prompted her to partner with other AFIL members to create HelpMeetsBolivia to raise funds for the hospital.  The project was very successful and resulted in considerable cash contributions that were used to purchase and donate much needed equipment for the Hospital’s Neonatology wing last August.

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Belén has also done volunteer work at Barrio Family Health Center in San Antonio and at the Poteet Family Health Center, a rural clinic 30 miles south of San Antonio.

 

At A&M, Belén has served as Student Senator representing the College of Engineering and is a member of both the Bolivian Student Association and Venezuelan Student Association.  Belén is also part of the Texas A&M PreMedical Society.  She has also been involved in organizations that promote diversity.  Belén was one of seven members in the Student Government Diversity Commission which helped set up the Model United Nations event, the first at Texas A&M, in the Spring of 2010.  The success of the event led to the creation of the Texas A&M chapter of the worldwide Model UN Organization.

Brawnlyn Blueitt is a junior International Studies-Politics and Diplomacy major from San Antonio, TX. She is working toward a double minor in Arabic and Military Studies with a focus on Middle East and North African countries. She is a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, from which both of her parents are graduates, making her the first cadet in the history of the Corps to have both parents commission into the military following completion of the Corps of Cadets. Following in their footsteps, Brawnlyn will be commissioning into the Air Force in May 2013 upon graduation with aspirations of going into the  intelligence career field.  Using her international experiences, she plans to aid the U.S. Air Force wherever needed in order to fulfill her duties to her country. 

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During her 2010 Spring Break, she was selected as one of 25 students to attend the Corps of Cadets Cultural Emersion Excursion to Germany, where she was exposed to the job which she now holds aspirations of attaining: the job of a Foreign Affairs Officer.  She was also a student with a Study Abroad Program to Russia in which she had the opportunity to begin learning Russian and
study the culture for six weeks.

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​At home Brawnlyn is involved in several activities in the Corps of Cadets.  She is a member of Arnold Air Society, a professional development organization for future Air Force officers, as the Public Affairs Officer. She holds the position of S-2 Intelligence in a special unit called Special Tactics Squadron, where members go through rigorous physical, mental, and ability training comparable to the training of ParaRescue Officers, Special Tactics Officers, and Combat/Search and Rescue Officers, of which she is the only female member.  In Cultural Awareness and Diversity Expansion Team, or C.A.D.E.T., she serves as the Public Relations Officer.  She also participated in the Nichols’ Rising Leadership Conference during her sophomore year. 

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Outside of the Corps, Brawnlyn takes part in Aggie Experience Council as an avid tour guide and greeter at the Appelt Visitor’s Center.  She is a 360-Audio Operator as part of the Soccer Crew with 12th Man Productions.  She takes part in activities held by the National Pan-Hellenic Council and ExCEL.  She also attends the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference each year  and was selected to be part of an elite group of 24 students to attend the Advanced Leadership Institute within the conference.  She also participates in several community service events such as Big Event, Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup, collecting donations for the March of Dimes at the Annual Wings Over Houston Air Show, Bingo Day at Lampstand Retirement and Rehabilitation Home, and other projects that go on throughout the year

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