Keanu Daley, a triple major in actuarial science, statistics and theology has been named recipient of the 2020 Tommie Award, and, from Kingston, Jamaica, is the first international student to receive this honor.

The Tommie Award, voted by St. Thomas community members, is given to a senior who “best represents the ideals of St. Thomas Aquinas through scholarship, leadership, and campus involvement” according to the St. Thomas website. When Daley found out he won, he said he felt humbled that people voted for him.

“I was really honored by the people who nominated me. It feels good to know that people appreciate you,” Daley said. “It’s about what others think and see about you and so I try to show my most authentic self, I just try to be me.”

Daley is involved in a number of St. Thomas clubs. He has worked with the African Nations Student Association (ANSA), Black Empowerment Student Alliance (BESA), Chi Alpha and Cru. Daley also serves as an international orientation leader and is an intern for the Diversity Activities Board (DAB).

Daley has a busy schedule, but says he has always been a determined person.

“Sometimes you just need to grind through. I take some time off or take a lot of summer and J-term classes,” Daley said. “I am a very persistent person.”

Daley has no immediate post-graduation plans, despite the pressure he faces as an international student. “We (international) students need to find a job before our only option becomes to go back home.” Daley said.

Sophomore Leslie Diaz, reflected on Daley’s impact in her life when entering St. Thomas last year as a first-year.

“I met Keanu at the Student Diversity and Inclusion Services office and he introduced himself to me,” Diaz said. “He’s always asking how you’re doing, how school is going; he makes you feel like your life matters.”

Diaz says that it’s important for someone like Keanu to get such high recognition like the Tommie Award to show how hard working international students are.

“I’m really glad he won it. Sometimes international students don’t get recognized as much. Many people don’t know about them enough, and it’s good that Keanu is getting the recognition he deserves,” Diaz said.

Daley is going to miss his time at St. Thomas and the opportunities it gave him.

“Friends. That is what I am going to miss the most,” Daley said. “I didn’t have anyone when I came here. I am very appreciative of the faculty and the university for all the learning spaces and communities that are offered here that helped me build a community.”

Andrés Tejeda can be reached at agtejeda@stthomas.edu.