A University of Wisconsin-Superior graduate student and domestic violence survivor is the recipient of the University of Wisconsin-System’s Woman of Color in Education Award.

Kym Young has been involved with advocacy and abuse prevention organizations since she began at UW-Superior in 2001. Young was a victim of domestic abuse during a past relationship.

“I always fought for it. I have never believed that women should be hit in a relationship or made to feel less than they are,” Young said. “And I think we have a voice, just now in these last few decades, that’s starting to really be present in the world. And there is still a lot that we need to fight for.”

Young completed her bachelor degree in 2003 and plans to finish her master’s degree this month. The art history major from Roanoke, Virginia says she didn’t expect to win UW-System’s Woman of Color in Education Award as a student. Typically, the award is given to academics.

“The chancellor called me at work and honestly, I was a little surprised. For a minute, I thought ‘Uh oh, I’m in trouble because I hadn’t finished my thesis yet,’” Young admitted.

UW-Superior Art Instructor Kathy Hubbard and Multicultural Student Services Specialist Ivy Vainio nominated Young. Vainio, a past recipient of the award, says Young’s work as co-president of UW-Superior’s Black Student Union showed her commitment to help others feel safe and welcome.

“The student organization was kind of floundering a little bit. It was in existence but it wasn’t really producing and when Kym took on that role, she recruited fellow peers to be involved and she got that organization up and running doing really great events that promote African and African-American culture on-campus and in the community,” Vainio said.

Young credits UW-Superior for making her feel a part of the campus community.

“I’ve come in the last few years to just regard UWS as my home and hopefully when I get my P.H.D., my goal is to ultimately come back up here and teach at UW-Superior,” Young said.

Vainio says UW-Superior is lucky to have a dedicated student like Kym.

“You’re blessed just knowing her,” Vainio said.

Young is completing her senior thesis on violent imagery in women’s art history in order to graduate within the next few weeks. She plans on completing her Doctorate degree but has yet to decide on a school.

Young will be honored at an on-campus ceremony on March 1 at 11:45 am inside the Multicultural Center in Old Main 232. There will be a formal honoring for all UW-System campus honorees on March 26, 2011 at the 35th annual UW-system’s Women’s Studies Conference at UW-Madison.