Valena's positive and bubbly personality makes her easy to connect with and relate to. She has shown her dedication to the profession of nursing through her commitment to patient and family-centered care throughout nursing school. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and always advocates for her patients. She has a passion for helping people and shows equality and humility in all of her interactions. Words that her cohort members use to describe her include compassionate and kind. 

Her compassion for others is also evident through her work in mentorship and suicide prevention. Valena paid it forward by helping other nursing students navigate their rigorous curriculum as the CNSA Mentorship Program Director at CSULB. During her last year at CSULB, Valena also became a Peer Educator and certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor, teaching peers in her campus community how to practice empathy and empowering them to save a life through compassionate intervention. Valena says she feels humbled to receive this award, and she aspires to continue to exude care and kindness in all her future interactions with others.