Ex-SCU janitor mops up honors as graduate

By PBK Washington D.C.

New PBK Members Overcome Challenges In Their Academic and Personal Lives

Initiation into Phi Beta Kappa represents a major achivement for every new member. But among those elected each year are some who confronted -and overcame-significant challenges demanding more than academic rigor. Their success serves as an inspiration to fellow students, their institutions, and anyone who feels cynical about the meaning of America's promise

The Key Reporter sent a query last spring to all 262 PBK campus chapters, asking them to identify some of these remarkable new members. Here are eight who bring special qualities to the society.

JUAN RUBALCAVA, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY

Juan and Family

The son of migrant farm workers, Rubalcava was born in Yahualica, an agricultural town in Jalisco, Mexico. One of three brothers and seven sisters; he showed an aptitude for mathematics when he won a contest in the sixth grade. After graduating from high school, he crossed the U.S. border illegaly to join his parents and other siblings. Working as a fruit picker in Gilroy, Calif, at age 19 he began to study English, and eventually passed the GED test. At age 26 he started taking classes at San Jose City College.

Rubalcava was hired as a janitor at Santa Clara University, and after four years on the job he decided to take advantage of the reduced tuition offered to faculty and staff. His instructors became accustomed to seein their diligent student sweeping the floors at night, and they admired his aspirations and resolve. He kept up with his studies; cleaned the classrooms; voluntered as a math tutor; took his disabled mother to frequent hospital visits; kept an aye on his elderly father- and became a U.S. citizen.

When the campus maintenance office was about to switch Rubalcava to a day shift, university officials intervened so that he could continue his classes. Last fall a sister stepped in with financial help, enabling him to quit the janitorial job. In June he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in computer science, two days after his 34 bithday. His achievents were reported in the San Jose Mercury News and on the local NBC-TV affiliate, making him a hero to many who shared his disadvantaged background.

This summer Rubalcava has been working part time as an assistant math tutor for high school students while he looks for a position with a high-tech company. He anticipates having time, at last to pursue hobbies like soccer and the guitar-and the luxury of summer vacations.

The Key REporter; volume 67, number 4 summer 2002

FEATURES: colorful scrollbar, lightting linking banners, cool droppdown menu, and simple but useful selection box menu. This Gui is a template. more guis

• The Hanged Man