Pardee Alumnus Receives BU Young Alumni Award

Andy X. Vargas (Pardee’15, CAS’15) was the recipient of a Boston University Young Alumni Award at the Best of BU Alumni Awards as part of Boston University’s 2019 Alumni Weekend on September 21, 2019. 

Vargas, the first Latino elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the Third Essex District, is a rising star in the state’s political scene. Prior to the award ceremony, Vargas and the other award recipients spoke as part of a panel. 

In a December 2016 alumni spotlight with the Pardee School, Vargas discussed his time serving as a Haverhill City Councilor, being honored by El Mundo Boston as one of the Latino 30 Under 30 most influential young Latinos in Boston, and gave advice to current Pardee School students interested in pursuing careers in politics. 

“Don’t be afraid to jump!” Vargas said. “There will never be a perfect time to run for office. The public sector may not pay you as well as the private sector, but I can assure you that the public sector needs you more. Go where you are needed. Jump!”

The Best of BU Alumni Awards are the most prestigious of all awards conferred by the Boston University Alumni Association. The award ceremony presented the opportunity to celebrate and hear from this year’s distinguished and young alumni award recipients, including Vargas, including about how they have impacted their industries and communities since leaving Boston University.

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