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Meet the Latinas Learning to Lead
Class of 2007
Gabriela Armijo is a senior attending Texas Woman’s University and was selected because of her community service record, which includes: La Llaves del Éxito College Fair, Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair, Dallas Latino Wellness Fair, Children’s Medical Center, and Helping Hands.
“I am deeply honored to be one of the 22 Latinas who will participate in Latinas Learning to Lead. I am looking forward to the many opportunities that will arise from my participation. I am also excited about the many life lessons and friendships I will gain.”
Jael Bravo is a junior attending Butler Community College. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: tutoring, The Girl Scouts, participating in communities in school, and volunteering for Villa Latina at River Fest.
“I feel honorable for having this opportunity to participate in the prestigious Latinas Learning to Lead summer youth institute.”
Claudia Caycho is a junior attending the University of Georgia. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: immigration rallies, high school and middle school visits, mentoring Latino students, giving presentations about challenges Latino students face, and actively promoting the importance of education for Latino students.
“As an active member of the Latino community, I feel very honored that I was selected to participate in this program that enriches and helps promote leadership for young Latinas like me that strive to make a difference.”
Radiris Diaz is a 2007 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: creating a special interest house for Latinas Unidas on campus, participating in cultural organizations such as the Spanish and Latino Student Association and the National Society for Hispanic MBAs, and dedicating time to the elderly and homeless.
“I am honored beyond all other recognition. This is a true testament to my hard work and perseverance throughout life and my continued dedication to fellow Latinos. With this dubious honor all I can promise is to uphold my Hispanic heritage and promote my Latino culture. I am extremely honored and humbled by this experience.”
Claudia Estrada is a junior attending Indiana University Bloomington and was selected because of her community service record, which includes: Latinos Unidos of Indiana University, The United States Hispanic Leadership, participation in El Puente Project and involvement with the “We Have a Dream” group.
“I feel very blessed and honored to be selected as one of the 22 Latinas that were selected for the Latinas Learning to Lead program. I hope to learn and take as much as I can from this program so I can better develop my leadership skills to and be able to impact my community in a positive way.”
Ruth Fuerte is a junior attending Bryant University. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: Coordinating Quisqueya in Action’s Youth Group with her role of youth coordinator in the organization, mentoring high-school Latino students with the college application process through the CAPP-RI program. Ruth Is also a part of the selection and planning committee of the Latina Leadership Institute of Rhode Island. Ruth recognizes the potential that Latinas possess and for this reason supports the NHLI vision of “Latinas as Ethical World Leaders.”
“I feel honored to be one of the 22 selected participants nationwide to participate in this prestigious leadership institute for Latinas. My selection signifies that my work in Rhode Island is being recognized and most importantly, that NHLI is aware of my potential. I am certain that NHLI will provide me with the necessary tools and resources to improve my community. Furthermore, the experience and the network of people that I will encounter will be unforgettable.”
Erica Gallegos is a senior attending the University of New Mexico. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: working with the Road Runner Food Bank, Breast Cancer Awareness, Political and Community activism, Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, Women of Juarez Awareness, Spring Storm, Project Share, Cesar Chavez March and March for Immigration reform among others.
“It is very rewarding knowing that I will be able to advance my leadership abilities and better help my community by utilizing the skills I learn from other leaders that have similar aspirations.”
Anna Garrigan is a senior attending Ohio Dominican University. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: Habitat for Humanity, St. Mary of the Springs, Motherhouse, ODU Campus Ministry, and various tutoring programs.
“I am so thrilled that I was selected as one of the 22 women participating in this program. I care deeply about my community and am so thankful for this opportunity to develop my leadership skills and collaborate with wonderful Latina leaders.”
Isaura Carla Maria Guerrero is a sophomore attending Stanford University. Isaura was selected because of her community service record, which includes: involvement in the Latino community at Stanford University, where she was Frosh Liaison for el Centro Chicano at Stanford.
“It is a great honor for me to be able to participate in the NHLI Summer Youth Institute. I am excited about this great opportunity to learn more about how to become the leader I need to be to help my community.”
Farahnaz Hassanshahi is sophomore attending the Catholic University of America. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: teaching crafts and aiding in the yearly Hispanic Heritage month event at the Rockville Senior Center, volunteering for the Summerville Shady Grove Hospital, organizing bingo nights for the Summerville Assisted Living Center, and tutoring children.
“I feel extremely honored and thankful to the National Hispana Leadership Institute for giving me the opportunity to be part of this magnificent program in which I will grow in my leadership qualities and will apply these skills in working with Hispanic communities.”
Pamela Herrera is a senior attending Boston College. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: being the secretary of the Organization of Latin American Affairs and being an intern for the Academic Success Program by helping high school students in her community aspire to attend college.
“It is an exciting experience that I am looking forward to and also is an opportunity to work more on my leadership skills.”
Rosibel Mancillas Lopez is a junior attending University of San Diego. Her community service record includes: tutoring for Spanish, Math, and English; Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer; sending gifts to an orphanage in Tecate, Mexico; and volunteering at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and the Trans Border Institute. She currently works at the office of the President of the University of San Diego and at the San Diego Union Tribune.
“I am honored to be one of the 22 Latinas chosen for this prestigious institute. This experience will be a time of firsts for me: first time away from home for an extended period of time; first time I travel outside of California; and the first time I travel on an airplane. I look forward to the knowledge and skills I will acquire and realize that these valuable skills will help me throughout my life as I embark on new projects.”
Christine Martinez is a senior attending the University of Illinois at Chicago. Christine was selected because of her community service record, which includes: volunteering for the Chicago Park District, Girls in the Game!, William B. Ogden Elementary School, Lifesource Blood Bank, Vida Sida, Children’s Memorial Hospital, and the Old Town School of Folk Music.
“I feel we have all been given the ability to do certain things well. My gift is that of serving others and serving them well. This prestigious leadership institute will provide me with the leadership tools necessary to serve others well, and for that I am honored.”
Naida Montes is a junior attending Arcadia University. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: coordinating and facilitating a campus wide book drive that benefits communities internationally, volunteering with Aspira of Pennsylvania, helping with activities and the after school program of the New Jerusalem Project, introducing Hilary Clinton at a youth summit, and volunteering with the Philadelphia City Solicitor, Eva Plaza.
“I am very excited and honored to be accepted into this prestigious leadership institute. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to expand my leadership abilities in order to help Latinas as well as others in my community. ¡Es una bendición!"
Melissa Portugues is a sophomore attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: being a member of the Latina community service sorority Kappa Delta Chi and working at the local church and community centers.
“I feel very privileged being able to participate in a program that will hand me the tools to be an effective leader for my community.”
Yesenia Ruiz is a sophomore attending Pima Community College.Yesenia has served as a Student Program Chair for the Arizona Women’s Conference, and assisted in the development of workshop topics to increase women’s awareness on health and leadership issues. She has also volunteered with Luz Social Services, and an Americorps member that provides mentoring and tutoring for middle school aged Latinas.
“I was astonished when I found out that I would be one of the 22 selected to participate in the 2007 Latinas Learning to Lead Summer Youth Institute. I am honored to participate in this program by participating I will be making a difference in my life and in my community."
Maria Salinas is a senior attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: her two years of service to Mujeres Latinas, an MIT organization supporting Hispanic women on campus. This fall, she will begin her second year as the organization’s President.
“I feel honored to have been chosen to represent my community in the Latinas Learning to Lead Institute. I have always jumped at any opportunity that allowed me to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly minorities from humble backgrounds like myself.”
Laura Sarinana is a senior attending University of Texas at El Paso. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: La Mujer Obrera, Orientation Leader at the University of Texas at El Paso children’s after school program.
“I feel blessed to have this great opportunity. I strongly believe this leadership program will give me the tools I need to make a difference in my community.”
Stephanie Tamargo is a 2007 Honors graduate of Miami Dade College and is now transferring to the University of Florida to attain her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: partnering with Better Way Miami, Inc. to provide over 200 children with toys for the holidays, restoring an inner city area in downtown Miami with the “Roots in the City” Project, participating in “Hands on Miami Day” annually raising over $200 for Autism Research while the two year President of Phi Beta Lambda, the premiere student business organization. She is also a distinguished member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
“I feel honored and fortunate to have been selected for this incredible opportunity that will surely have a positive impact on the 22 of us and the rest of the Hispanic community. I am excited to know I will be amidst other Latinas who are striving for a brighter and better tomorrow. I am truly confident that this experience will prove invaluable to all of us.”
MariaLinda Torres Medina is an honor student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communications, Arizona State University, Tempe campus entering her senior year in the fall. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: volunteering as a publicist for the Association of Multicultural Journalists, volunteering as the co-producer: the Blaze Radio, mentoring young Latinas, being a youth conference coordinator/volunteer for Hispanic Women’s Conference, volunteering for National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and various other organizations.
“It is a real privilege and I’m excited to have been selected as one of the 22 Latinas representing universities and colleges from across the nation. I believe, the NHLI Latinas learning to lead program is unsurpassed and will ensure an opportunity to develop leadership and networking skills while learning to become socially responsible leaders for our community. This is an invaluable venue to interact with the brightest Latinas students and the finest NHLI leaders in the country.”
Paola Urrea is a senior attending The University of Florida. She is the Founder of Promoting Relationships In Diversity Education (PRIDE), President of the Columbian Student Association at The University of Florida, and is an Embajadora at with The Institute of Hispanic-Latino cultures at The University of Florida.
I look forward to developing the personal and professional skills that will allow me to serve as a future leader within the Hispanic community.”
Karolina Villargrana is a sophomore attending University of Colorado at Denver. She was selected because of her community service record, which includes: Her involvement with the Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE). She encourages and promotes Latinos/as to go to college by establishing SHPE chapters at local high schools. She also volunteers her time to help organize a pre-college conference for high school students to help them develop and learn to be successful in their college careers.
“It is a great honor for me, along with my family, teachers and friends who have supported me along the way. I hope from being one of the twenty two young ladies selected that I can motivate and inspire other young ladies to be a leader in their communities.”
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