April 2009 Intern Newsletter - Hispanic Association of Colleges and ...

Spring 2009
Intern Newsletter
Director’s Note
April 2009
Inside this issue:
Felicidades 2
SAMHSA Highlight 2
Eye Opening Exp. 3
Hands on DC Recap 4
Left to right: Edward Lyles, Edgardo Velez, Elizabeth Mendoza, Anita Tambay, Jeffrey Zelaya, Manual Vidal,
Mable Cao, Alex Barriera, Brendan Kaye, Alexis Novoa, Juan Roque, Manuel Garcia, Angel Ortiz Arroyo
Congratulations!
HACU NATIONAL
INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
One Dupont Circle, N.W.
Suite 430
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-467-0893
Fax: 202-496-9177
E-mail: hnip@hacu.net
This edition of the intern newsletter comes to you as you have already finished
your internship and are busy planning your summer. So are we: we are expecting
400+ interns in the next few weeks and also processing applications for the fall. If
you are in the area, and would like to volunteer during orientation, please let us
know. We would definitely appreciate your help.
Your Spring 2009 certificates of completion have been mailed out this week, but
let this not be the end of your relationship with HACU. I encourage you to
share your experiences and stories and continue being an active member of our
community. Check us out on Facebook and become a fan of HNIP!
Have a great summer!
Maria Elena Vivas-House

Page 2 Spring 2009
¡FELICIDADES!
These HNIP Spring 2009 Interns have been
offered federal employment:
Janet Mogollon ( Smithsonian Institution )
Milagros Ortiz ( VA )
Ricardo Soto ( USDA )
Jennerfer Torres ( DHHS—SAMHSA )
Alexis Novoa ( DOC )
Maria Zieba ( USDA )
Anita Tambay ( NIH )
A Life in the Community for Everyone
By Christina Cervera
Texas A&M University—Kingsville
For being one of the smallest government
agencies, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration(SAMHSA),
and its team of professionals, are entrusted
with carrying out quite serious
responsibilities. Within the entire
agency are three centers and five
supporting offices. SAMHSA is
currently supporting an intern staff
of eighteen who are spread out in
each of the centers and offices.
I have had the pleasure of speaking
to nine of HACU’s interns who all
provided some great feedback on
their experiences here at SAM-
HSA. We all agreed that a major
goal upon entering this internship
was to gain professional experience
in the context of our prospective
fields of study within the
federal government. We also agreed
that the network of professionals we
had the opportunity to interact with is
invaluable.
When I asked Alexis Novoa, Center for
Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP),
about his experience as a SAMHSA CSAP
intern and his interaction with the employees
he said, “I don’t feel like a
stranger, a student or an intern. They
treat me like another employee here,
allow me to bring my ideas to the table,
and have helped me in many ways -- both
professionally and academically.” This was
Alexis’ second term serving as a HACU/
SAMHSA intern and we would like to congratulate
him and wish him the best on
Left to Right: Kyle Zagorski, Wambui Kiruthi, Sequana Tolon,
Christie Cervera, Fatima Pineda
accepting a full-time position with the Census
Bureau.
Another “veteran” intern, as I like to refer
to those of us who are returning for a second
term, is Sandra Adrovet, who also
works for CSAP in the Division of State
Programs (DSP). Sandra has lent her expertise
to the division by performing statistical
analysis on the illegal sales rate of tobacco
to youth. Sandra’s hard work landed her a
DHHS—SAMHSA
Spring 2009 Intern
pivotal role in the presentation of this important
issue at a National Conference on
Tobacco or Health this June in Phoenix Arizona.
Sandra is a doctoral student who feels
fortunate to be part of the team she joined
in CSAP/DSP.
Tracy Springs, another “veteran”
intern, returning to the Office of
Communications (OC), has supported
the efforts of the Media Team
by preparing press kits for the National
Inhalants and Poisons Awareness
Week (NIPAW), has worked
logistics at several different events
and workshops, and has been given
the responsibility of responding to
media inquires. Tracy has also been
able to sit in while interviews are
being conducted from major media
outlets with SAMHSA’s Acting Administrator,
RADM Broderick. Tracy is a
graduate student who has accepted another
term in the OC for summer 2009 and says
she “has much more experience now than I
had ever anticipated gaining.”
The last of the “veterans” would be myself,
Christina Cervera, returning to CSAP in the
Division of Systems Development. The experience
here has helped me grow both
personally and professionally. The people I
have met have made the experience that
much more exceptional.

Cont. from Prev. Pg.
This semester I have worked on projects
dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
(FASD) in conjunction with SAM-
HSA’s FASD Center for Excellence,
helped write the many pieces needed in a
Request for Contract (RFC) intended for
the underage drinking media campaign,
and have helped to organize personal/
professional development
series sessions hosted by
SAMHSA and Young Government
Leaders. My time
here has been wonderful. I
feel extremely privileged
and blessed to be part of
such an amazing opportunity!
A common theme among
three interns here at SAM-
HSA was the “fear factor”
when entering the workforce.
Fatima Pineda, Sequana
Tolon, and Kyle
Zagorski have all overcome the
fear of the unknown by contributing
their skill sets to their fields. Fatima
Pineda, who is a graduating senior working
in the OC, has helped to develop a Website
project, Share Point. Her advice to
future interns is “Whatever you do, do it
ten times better. Do not be afraid to ask
questions, network with everyone, and
put yourself out there.” Sequana Tolon, a
graduating senior working for the Center
for Mental Health Services, contributed to
the Health Care Reform document that
contains SAMHSA’s vision for the mental
health care system and was sent to the
Obama administration. Sequana says, “To
know that I was a part of that increases my
level of self-efficacy. We are the future of
this country, of this nation, and to know
that I can be that influential, pushes the
importance of thinking critically, and making
Left to right:: Sandra Adrovet, Alexis Novoa, Christina Cervera,
Wilmarie Hernandez, Lauren Parker, Fredis Villata
wise, informed decisions because you never
know how those decisions will affect others.”
Kyle Zagorski says he was impressed
by the “camaraderie of the team I was involved
with within the Office of Policy,
Planning, & Budget (OPPB) and their efforts
to include me on meaningful tasks, conferences,
teleconferences, etc.”
Fredis Villalta, working in OPPB, came with
the intent of getting a better understanding
Page 3
of the budget process within the context of
the government. Fredis has accomplished
this by having a role in preparing the quarterly
report, which how SAMHSA spends
and allocates its monies. Fredis has accepted
another term in OPPB with the
“hopes of learning even more.”
Wambui Kiruthi says, “At
this point of my internship
experience, I definitely feel
that I have moved closer to
accomplishing these goals
through all the challenging
assignments and activities I
have been given.” .
Zaynab Major, who is graduating
with her master’s degree
this semester, states “I love
SAMHSA, I love what they do
here, and I believe in what
they do. I have had a better
experience because of the
connections with the people around
SAMHSA.” Zaynab has accepted
another term with the agency and has plans
to continue her education as a PhD student
at Johns Hopkins University.
Of the eighteen SAMHSA interns from the
Spring 2009 session, ten will be returning
for Summer 2009. We have all been fortunate
to be pieces in a larger picture, “A Life
in the Community for Everyone.”
DHHS—Program Support Center
Spring 2009 Intern
Eye Opening Experience
by Didetsa Vazquez Soto
University of Puerto Rico—Arecibo
Didetsa getting ready for the future
Three months ago I arrived in the nation’s
capital and it has been quite an amazing experience.
From meeting new roommates to
ice-skating on my way to work, it has all
been part of a journey that leads interns to
become better individuals at the end of the
program.
On my first week, I was amazed by the professionalism
of the program and the city
itself. The networking and self-improvement
opportunities presented to us are endless.
Honestly, I feel extremely privileged to be
part of this internship.
As a student, friend, daughter, worker, and
all my other roles in life I have always strived
to go above and beyond, work that extra
mile, do my best and help others. My family
has taught me well. For them, there was no
choice but for me to excel – for which I am
tremendously grateful. They have truly set
the example for me and my future goals.
This internship opened my eyes to the
world and made me realize there are opportunities
for those who really want to
succeed and make a difference. Starting
with the foundation my family gave me, I
have the tools to inspire future Hispanic
and other generations of minority students
who wish to change their history as well.
Thank you HACU for this opportunity.
The influence and significance of the National
Internship Program helps students
like me pursue their dreams and encourages
us to never give up.

Champions of Hispanic Success in Higher Education
Put Your Hands Where Your Heart Is
By Maricela Huerta, HAA Board Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC – The phrase “53 rd STREET 4 LIFE!” covered a neighborhood school playground,
along with other not so “PG” phrases and drawings scribbled on almost every bench, door and wall of
C.W. Harris Elemantary. Two little girls, who were riding their bikes, parked in front of one of the scribbled
on benches and stared at if for a minute. Then, while pointing at a vandalized bench, one of them
turned to a Hands On DC volunteer, who at the time was working on painting a classroom door and
said, “we want to help fix this.”
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Alumni Association (HAA) joined its local
community by participating in Hands On DC and volunteered to sponsor C.W. Harris Elementary
School in Washington, D.C. The event was part of the Hands On DC Work-A-Thon, an annual volunteering
event, aimed at improving conditions of schools for students in the District of Columbia public
school system. HAA volunteers spent their Saturday working with and for the community. They cleaned
the playground, painted classroom doors and benches, outlined basketball courts, and painted a large
map of the United States of America on the playground blacktop.
"For almost the past five years, the HACU Alumni Association has participated in Hands on DC. It's a
great community service event that brings HACU Alumni from past years together to reconnect while
making a difference in their community," stated Susie Saavedra, Chair of HAA.
HAA Hands On DC participants included former and current HACU interns, members of the HAA
Executive Board, HACU staff and friends of HAA who shared their support by also attending and getting
involved.
"Being able to partner up with the HACU Alumni Association to service our community was a wonderful
experience. Not only did we help improve the school but we had a great time as we shared our HACU
memories," expressed Jeffrey Zelaya, HACU 2009 spring intern. Due to the big hearts of those who
participated in the event on behalf of HAA and also over 2,000 other local volunteers, Hands On DC
met their mission that Saturday, and helped to better the conditions of over 30 DC public schools.
Hands on DC is volunteer-founded and volunteer-led and is only one of the several programs HAA
participates in every year.
For more information about how you can get involved with HAA, please visit www.hnip.net/alumni.
www.hnip.net/alumni
Hands on DC Organizers, Nicholas Anders, Kelly Waldron, and Virginia Kromm with HAA Board, members and Friends.