Difference Makers
UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.
Cardi DeMonaco is the definition of a well-rounded and engaged student. An honors program participant, he has been actively involved with a number of student and community organizations. He's been president of the Student Association of Michigan, an organization that advocates for Michigan’s 15 public universities. His tireless leadership of this organization has increased communication between students of the colleges and universities and helped raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities ahead for higher education.
Cardi has also held various administrative positions with Delta Sigma Phi and served as sergeant at arms and webmaster of the Greek Leadership Council as well as the president of the Association for Computing Machinery. He's also been a fellow, webmaster and senator of Student Government. In addition to these responsibilities, he's held a position at Compuware, a technology performance company, as a technical support representative and finds time to volunteer for a number of organizations and causes, including Alternative Spring Break, Make a Difference Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Focus H.O.P.E, Motor City Blight Busters, and, notably, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where he spends a week working with and supporting a camper with MD. He’s received the Outstanding Student Service Heart and Soul Award from Michigan Campus Compact, the UM-Dearborn Leadership Synergy Award Certificate in 2009 and the Service Learning Certificate in both 2008 and 2010.
“His achievements have already been recognized by campus leaders and alumni and Cardi is certainly a difference maker in my eyes,” says Kristin McDonough of institutional advancement.
IN MY OWN WORDS
"If I could spend time with current high school students, I would tell them to make the most of their college experience, if they choose to go. College is where you find out what you like and why you like it. There will be plenty of opportunity to explore what you like at UM-Dearborn. I have figured out that I wanted to be a software engineer, that I like politics, and that I believe very strongly in the United States educational system."
