January 31, 2009 – Bucaramanga, Colombia…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Evelyn Calderon, a 21-year-old from Bucaramanga, Colombia, recently became the first student and the first Seventh-day Adventist to receive the National Simon Bolivar Journalism Award-the highest award bestowed on journalists in the country.
Calderon received the prestigious award during the 33rd annual ceremony late last year in the Best New Print Revelation category. Her article, entitled “One Hope and Two Hearts,” tells the story of a heart transplant performed on a six-year-old girl. During the six-hour long surgery, surgeons decided to leave in her original heart and add the new heart because the new heart was too small.
Calderon, a senior majoring in Social Communication and Journalism at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Bucaramanga, Colombia, says the editor of the magazine liked her piece and submitted it to the National Simon Bolivar Award office.
A life-long Seventh-day Adventist, Calderon says the award was a God send.
“The award has been a great blessing from God–a gift for my faithfulness to the fourth commandment, has opened many doors for me,” says Calderon who believes God rewarded her for not going to class or taking tests on Sabbath.
Calderon says she can use her study in communication to share the gospel of salvation. “I can tell the truth and tell stories that can be useful to other people and help the community by publishing social injustices in the region,” she adds.
Calderon, who sings and plays the piano, enjoys working with the youth and children in several of the Adventist churches in Bucaramanga. Calderon says she wants to work where she can serve God and people with her career. After she graduates, she plans to travel to Spain to pursue a Master’s degree in journalism.
