Jose Ignacio Carvajal-Regidor

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“I have chosen to study Latin American literature because it is a window to the world from which I came. As a writer, I hope to leave people with the notion that we are not so different, after all. As a professor, I will be able to relay that message.”

  • Program: 2011 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Austin, TX
  • Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
  • Age: 24

Biography

Profile: May 14, 2011 was the date, the Kansas Union Ballroom on the University of Kansas campus was the location.  A young man named José Carvajal Regidor who spoke not a word of English when he and his family arrived in the US from Costa Rica just a decade before, was seated in the auditorium for the university’s English Department awards ceremony.  And when it was over José, who learned and mastered the English language and developed a love for literature, was awarded the university’s Henry Matthew Wiedner Award for the best essay by an undergraduate.  An honors graduate, José is on his way to Austin where he’ll begin graduate studies at the University of Texas in Latin American Literature.

Inspiration: Following high school, José’s first stop in academia was Johnson County Community College.  That’s where José met two professors, William Stockton and Robert Xidis, who had a profound impact on his life and his future.  “They both took a personal interest in me and assisted and advised me not only in my classes but also in my future as a student,” José said.  Then, after transferring to the University of Kansas, José was fortunate to meet Professor Santa Arias who “was incredibly kind and helpful” and encouraged him to attend graduate school.  Finally, Professor Jorge Pérez was a significant figure in José’s development in the study of literature. 

Aspiration:  José loves literature. “Throughout my life, the written word has been the main medium through which I understand the world.” He wants to share that love with others and teach on the university level.  “Literature has helped me make sense of where I am standing; as I work towards a doctoral degree, the end goal is to become a liaison for others who seek to understand our world through the written word.”

Making a Difference:  José said he is most proud of his participation in the Latino Writers Collective of Kansas City.  With this talented group of writers, he has been able to share his poetry both at myriad live venues as well as through the radio and the internet.  José is also very proud of WORD, a radio show which he co-hosted at the University of Kasas for three semesters.  The show featured poetry and hip hop and aimed to showcase these art forms to the Lawrence community - as well as on the national level. 

Accolades:  José was awarded a  Faith Fellowship from the University of Texas and Departmental Honors from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Kansas.  He also earned an Undergraduate Research Award from the University of Kansas' Honors Program to spend a summer conducting poetry research in Costa Rica.

Interesting Fact: José might want to consider buying stock in Purell Hand Sanitizer as he’s “a bit obsessive about keeping my hands clean.”

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