UTPA Student Named peta2’s 2013 Street Teamer of the Year

No Animal Abuser Is Too Tough for This Award-Winning Weslaco Native to Tackle

For Immediate Release:
December 20, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Take a quick glance at University of Texas–Pan American senior and Weslaco native Suzeii Liu Sierra and you might not know you’re looking at a powerhouse. But when it comes to defending the rights of animals, not even a worldwide mega-corporation such as McDonald’s slows her down. That’s one reason why Sierra has been chosen from among a field of top competitors nationwide as the 2013 Street Teamer of the Year by peta2, PETA’s youth division, in the eighth annual Libby Awards. “Libby” is for “liberation”—as in animal liberation.

“More and more young people are going vegan and taking other measures to help stop animal suffering, and Suzeii is someone they can all look up to,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “People who take a stand against the injustices endured by animals and other victims of violence are winners because they have compassion for others and they’re not afraid to show it.”

Sierra’s work for animals runs the gamut, from protesting against McDonald’s for not lifting a finger to stop its suppliers’ worst abuses of chickens, cows, and pigs to picketing Ringling Bros. for beating baby elephants into submission. She advocates going vegan because each person who stops eating animals saves more than 100 lives every year.

A total of 26 Libby Awards will be given out this year in a variety of categories. Winners were chosen by peta2 based on several factors, including vote count, and each winner will receive a personalized certificate and yearlong bragging rights.

For more information, please visit peta2.com/Libbys.