One of our favorite activities is meeting up with the Alumni Association, so when Asst VP Of Alumni Relations, Charlie Vienne, asked us to a luncheon, we said, “Yes!”
The primary purpose of our presence was to discuss with anyone interested our involvement in the Austin Internship Program. Six LEAP Ambassadors (and at least three others) will be participating in the Austin Internship Program this spring and two of us (Christina Perez and Karla Rosales) were able to attend the luncheon.
Also present were two former LEAP Ambassadors, Ariel Traub and Melva Gomez, both of whom participated in the Austin Internship Program in 2015. One of us (Christina Perez) had never met either, so the lunch was a great way to connect current Ambassadors with former Ambassadors. Melva is now working with the Texas PTA, and Ariel is the District Representative for Senator Charles Schwertner.
It was also a great way to connect with SHSU Alumni. Meeting with successful professionals is always a bit intimidating, but fortunately we had friends such as Charlie Vienne and Leanne Woodward on hand to introduce us to people and break the ice.
We also had a chance to hear from President Hoyt, who provided an update of what the University had in progress. That was enlightening, and it is always good to spend time with President Hoyt.
Charlie also asked Ariel to say a few words, and we thought she gave a fine extemporaneous talk about what her time at SHSU meant to her, and what the support of alumni and other donors did for her career. It was a nice speech, and I think that everything she said applies to us as well. Without the support of the community, administrators, professors, and alumni, it would be very difficult for us to have taken the opportunities we have.
Appropriately, this event occurred less than a week before Thanksgiving, and it was a great reminder of all we have to be thankful for at SHSU.
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