Spring 2025 SBS Tenacity Award Winner Lucas Contreras Embodies Perseverance and Purpose

Lucas Contreras — who is graduating with a major in environmental studies and minors in Pre-Law (Thematic) and Spanish — is the recipient of the SBS Tenacity Award for spring 2025. This award recognizes a graduating senior in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences who has persevered in the face of significant adversity to earn his or her university degree.

Lucas has had epilepsy for most of his life, a condition that he was able to manage independently until 2019, when his seizures suddenly worsened. This shift came as he began college during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he attended his first year remotely while navigating his changing health. In 2021, Lucas underwent brain surgery to stabilize his epilepsy, which meant ten days in the hospital and a long recovery where he worked every day to overcome uncertainty, as well as physical and academic challenges.

“Lucas is an asset to the community, committed to making the world a better place, and excelling in the classroom,” wrote Dereka Rushbrook, associate professor of practice and director of undergraduate studies in the School of Geography, Development & Environment.

Throughout his university career, Lucas’s commitment to service and community advocacy has shone through in his volunteer and internship work — from volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Salvation Army to helping organize local events like Tucson Meet Yourself and the Tucson Festival of Books — all centered around building community connection.

A commitment to community service is representative of Lucas’s concern for the broader community, shaped by his internship with then-Representative Ruben Gallego's office. That impact has extended through his work with Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services, mentoring kids at KIDCO, and helping refugee families through the International Rescue Committee. Whether it’s his work with the U of A School Garden Workshop or other hands-on roles, Lucas has modeled hands-on engagement to foster learning, growth, and belonging.

Lucas’s unwavering resilience helped him adapt and thrive — transforming these setbacks into a drive to serve others.

“These external commitments and my academics are a large part of who I am and where I get my sense of self,” Lucas said. “I have dealt with epilepsy most of my life, and when it first began to appear, I made a decision that I would not let it change my goals in life. As long as I have a plan and routine, I am able to balance it with the rest of my duties. I want to make my life count.”

Lucas’s service also extends to his leadership roles in Omega Delta Phi Multicultural Service/Social Fraternity and the United Sorority and Fraternity Council, where he helped organize and inspire fellow students to engage with the Tucson community through coordinated volunteer efforts.

“Despite the challenges he has faced, Lucas has demonstrated engagement, insight, ethics, and empathy — qualities that have made him a thoughtful contributor and a valued presence in class discussions," wrote Rushbrook.

After graduation, Lucas will work on improving his guitar skills and find a job to save money. He plans to attend law school and study environmental science. 

##