As a woman of the owl, Blanca Morales knows that wisdom equals strength. Since joining the Nu Chapter of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., Morales has been making her mark as a force in Kean Greek Life. Morales rushed and officially became a sister of her sorority during the Spring 2009 semester, taking her place as one of the first active, undergraduate sisters in years. Prior to that semester, Chi Upsilon Sigma's presence at Kean was only upheld by a dedicated alumni backing. Morales has since made strides to make her sorority known on campus. For the 2010-11 year, Morales represents her sisters as their vice-president - a more modest, but just as strong and dedicated a position compared to the presidency she held the previous year. Morales, a junior health information management major, will take her place as the first in her family to graduate from a university. The young Latina wishes to build a career in the health field, but is not concrete in the specifics. For Morales, the want to aid, communicate with, and nurture others is the driving force behind her future; these specifics are certain. Morales credits this 'caregiver' ambition to the characteristics of her mother - the member of Morales' family who she says is 'the protector' and 'the rock'. Family is one gift of life that holds much value, according to Morales. There should be no perplexity, then, why Morales has adopted an additional family into her life with such open arms.

With all the choices available through Kean Greek Life, one might wonder why Morales chose a sorority with such little undergraduate-peer backing. "What caught my eye was what the sorority stood for," boasted Morales. "Educational, political, cultural, social: our four awareness. Our mission is 'wisdom through education'." Morales prides on the sororities strong, independent beginnings as being the first Latin-female sorority to be established without the assistance of a male. "We are different; we believe in women being independent," states Morales. "One statement we stand by is 'sisters so strong, we need no brothers'."

This past April 2010, at a South Beach, Florida based convention, Morales celebrated the sorority's 30th anniversary with her sisters from around the country. It was there Morales met one of the 'founding mothers' of her sorority, an experience she describes as 'breath-taking'. "It brought tears to my eyes. I mean, this woman and her sisters started something that they had no idea what it would become, what it would mean to other people. The experience, well, you can't put into words," smiled Morales.

Morales has been right at work this 2010-11 year helping to coordinate and prepare for the sorority's 'Founder's Week' and 'Week of Wisdom', set to execute in November and the Spring time, respectively. Another humanitarian effort Morales is prepared to continue working with is the sorority's philanthropy - I Have A Dream Foundation. The children and education focused foundation was born in 1981, just a year after the formation of Chi Upsilon Sigma. So in essence, their paths have grown together. Today, their partnership has helped to raise significant money for low-income communities and promoted a key value of both their missions: wisdom.

Morales describes herself as a driven team player. During high school, Morales was captain of the basketball, volleyball, and softball teams. An obvious sports fanatic, Morales says her enjoyment stems from both being active with and observing the love of the game. Despite her energy, Morales thinks she has a 'chill' persona with a 'real' demeanor. "People who know me, appreciate the fact that I am 'real'. I am who I am all of the time," states Morales. As an independent, caring Latina representing the red, black, and beige of Chi Upsilon Sigma, the students of Kean University would expect no less.