Alumni Class Secretaries: Cambodia & El Salvador

Alumni Class Secretaries

Cambodia

After returning to Cambodia from Rochester, New York, Sophina Neang (11-12) finished her TEFL degree and graduated last September. From January to September 2012, she interned at the International Republican Institute (IRI), helping with the U.S. alumni projects and participating in some political and youth events abroad and locally. Now, she is in Riga, Latvia on the Erasmus Mundus Program.

Sophina Neang at the International Youth Forum in Seoul
Elita Ouk, Viseth Sean and Thearith S. Makara (back row, middle)

Viseth Sean (11-12), Thearith S. Makara (11-12) and Elita Ouk (11-12) were awarded scholarships to study English for Academic Purposes together at the Australian Center for Education (ACE).  They had only just got to know each other when applying to the UGRAD program. They became good friends while studying in the US, sharing stories, experiences, suggestions, and advice despite the fact that they were in different states. Every two weeks, the group talked via Skype. Now, they are close friends!

After becoming an intern of Ernst & Young, one of the big four assurance firms in the world, Soukim Lay (11-12) was offered and accepted a permanent position. Due to her hard work in her studies, she has recently received a full scholarship from the Ministry of Economy and Finance for a professional course by the Association Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) at CamEd Business School in Cambodia. She is very excited about this opportunity and will begin the course on January 14th.

Mana Kheang (11-12) is still volunteering at FUSAAC and volunteered at the “Many Homes, One Community” project at Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) on World Habitat Day. While completing her bachelor’s degree in International Relations, she is also volunteering as the Exchange Program Coordinator with Khmer Youth Association. In this role, she coordinates the “American Youth Leadership Program” administered by the University of Montana and the Khmer Youth Association.

El Salvador

Lilian Quant

Lilian Quant  (11-12) recently submitted her graduation thesis that she will present on January 21st. Her expected graduation date is June 2013. She continues to dance and teach English. Gloria Raquel Orantes (11-12) is currently working as a bilingual teacher in a local private school and is also working as an interpreter with a group of engineers from Georgia who are building a well in her community. Rodrigo Moran (08-09) is working as the Deputy Coordinator of the Youth Against Violence Movement-El Salvador and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Youth Against Violence Central America. He also works part-time as a translator and interpreter.

Sonia Zavaleta (11-12) finished her senior year internship and will graduate in early 2013. She successfully participated in her first triathlon earning 3rd place, which qualified her to be part of the El Salvador National Team! While awaiting graduation, she is teaching math to high school youth.

Camila Acevedo and Sonia Zavaleta with the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Mari Carmen Aponte

Camila Acevedo (11-12) is finishing her graduate studies in psychology at Universidad José Simeón Cañas (UCA) and works part-time as a research assistant on a project concerning children and migration. Camila is an active volunteer at the U.S. Embassy and has participated in numerous events with other UGRAD alumni. .

Camila Acevedo and Sonia Zavaleta (first and second from the right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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