Susie Saavedra, an alumna of the HACU National Internship
Program (HNIP), was honored at the Emerald Gala as the first inductee to the
HACU Alumni Wall of Honor. Saavedra was presented with a commemorative plaque
by Maria Elena Vivas-House, senior executive director of HNIP and Fabiana Perera,
chair of the HACU Alumni Association.
The mistress of ceremonies for the gala is also an HNIP
alum, Jackie Orozco of ABC 24 News WPTY-TV in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition
to the induction to the Wall of Honor, the Emerald Gala featured remarks by Lisa
Pino of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Paola Marte of Deloitte Tax,
both former HACU interns, and Director John Berry of the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management.
The Emerald Gala was sponsored by Buick, Latina Style Magazine, MillerCoors, NCAA Inclusion, Quaker, Sodexo and Southwest Airlines.