Alumni Spotlight - Candice Hughes-Bengochea '08

Candice Hughes-Bengochea left her hometown of Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 bound for the Pacific Northwest. Having received a joint scholarship between Pacific Lutheran University and her country’s government she was bent on making an impact on the small Lutheran campus that engulfed her upon arrival. While on campus, Candice made The Diversity Center a second home. She was determined to spread her Trinidadian culture to all on campus and rallied the “Trini Posse” to host many campus Carnivals during her time. Studying Abroad to Botswana Africa opened her eyes to many global issues as she graduated as valedictorian in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. Candice made a vow to continue the PLU mission of service to any part of the world she would encounter.

Candice is now the On-Site Coordinator for the PLU’s Trinidad and Tobago Program, hosting and
coordinating all activities when students arrive in Trinidad. She states “This job is extremely important to me as it allows me to give back to my dear Alma Mata and in the same token allows me to showcase my sweet TnT."  What she is most proud of is what she has taken from her PLU experience- Service to community and environment. Candice is currently involved in her church- Tunapuna RC Church where she assists in the Junior Choir. She is also involved in her hometown as she assists on the board of the local Steel Orchestra; Sangre Grande Cordettes Steel Orchestra.
Candice volunteers at her past High School; Holy Name Convent (which is also the current school of her daughter Kyra) and also at the Autistic Society of Trinidad and Tobago. “When I attended PLU, vocation and service where the two themes that have stuck with me forever. Volunteerism has become a way of life for me as I seek out any opportunity where my services are needed,” Candice states. Despite completing her Masters in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies and currently pursuing her PhD, Candice states that these are not accomplishes that she would consider being her proudest. She is extremely proud of the service that she gives to her church, her school and her community.

When asked about her fondest moment at PLU Candice responded “Campus Carnivals no doubt”.

Candice was the mastermind behind the genesis of the Trinidad Campus Carnival. Tapping into the returning students from the Trinidad program and the Trinidadians on campus Candice help transform the PLU campus from Harstad to Tinglestad. “When I first arrived at PLU I was apprehensive of how receptive the campus would have been of the Trini culture. I was so wrong….PLU embraced and encouraged our cultural diversity, supporting our efforts financially and physically. Lecturers such as Barbara Temple-Thurston and Greg Youtz were seen leading the parade and encouraging students to do the same. Past students were Moko Jumbies and Blue devils blowing Fire across campus…it was epic”.

When Candice arrived on campus in 2004, she was the first Trinidadian to be on campus via this scholarship. She felt lost and tried to find her niche, her home. She stumbled into the UC and found The Diversity Center. “When I saw the name I thought, that’s me!” It provided a safe space for her to vent, cry, chill out and to propel her idea to transforming the PLU campus. Candice was seen in the dCenter literally every day and soon she became a Diversity Advocate and a Rieke Scholar. Candice

concludes “I learned the true meaning of Diversity in the dCenter. In Trinidad we are very diverse culturally, ethnically and religiously, but I learned of other forms and depths of diversity such as sexual diversity and diversity in thought and mind. It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and I truly thank Angie Hambrick for this. My first two years at PLU the DC made may Coordinator changes until Angie arrived. She brought stability to the DC and planted seeds that have run deep within the PLU community. PLU is a better place because of the DC and even when I visit now as an alumna I stop by the DC first.”