Feature Story
Four-Year Streak: Lauren Madsen Continues University Trend Receiving Sigma Delta Pi’s Gabriela Mistral Award
The National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi announced today Lauren Madsen (’26) as a recipient of the prestigious Gabriela Mistral Award, becoming the fourth consecutive Southern Virginia University student to receive this award.
The Gabriela Mistral Award, founded in 1984, is granted to outstanding graduate or undergraduate students of Spanish who is an active member of Sigma Delta Pi and has demonstrated noteworthy involvement and initiative in their chapter. Madsen follows in the footsteps of previous Knight recipients: Jasmine Rios (‘26), Karenna Olson (‘24), and Jacob Adams (‘23).
“Professors Iana Konstantinova and Jordan Clark are always so confident in their students and love to push us to go for what we might think isn’t plausible,” said Madsen. “It’s easy for me to get down on myself, but Konstantinova was always sending us things to apply for and writing letters of recommendation. And Clark has been so helpful in navigating becoming a teacher. I don’t think I would’ve pushed myself as much as I have without these amazing professors, and I really admire them.”
From Saratoga Springs, Utah, Madsen is pursuing a degree in Spanish, education, and international affairs with the goal of becoming a Spanish teacher and one day leading study abroad trips for her students. After serving a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Houston, Texas, Madsen utilized her Spanish the past two summers in Paraguay and Bolivia with Humanitarian Experience building classrooms for local schools.
After graduating from SVU in May, Madsen will be moving to Las Vegas with her husband, Justin, to pursue teaching Spanish and later pursue her master’s degree and teach at the collegiate level. She credits her success to both her professors and the close-knit environment SVU cultivates.
“Being a part of the small class sizes and having professors actually know who I am and understand my goals has been so helpful,” said Madsen. “I don’t think I would be able to have such personal relationships at a larger university to the point where my professors can and are willing to write personalized letters of recommendation.”
Madsen is a part of the Spanish honor society, where she serves as co-president, and the national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa. She has played on the university’s women’s soccer and track teams, has served as the executive secretary and service senator for the Student Government Association, and worked at the university’s Mail Center and Student Account office.
Professor of Spanish Iana Konstantinova will present Madsen with the award at a graduation party co-hosted by Phi Alpha Theta on April 24.