Friday, December 10, 2004 |
We at the Latino Alumni Association wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season. Table of Contents |
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Lillian Casillas, La Casa Director, to Receive Staff Merit Award Lillian Casillas, the director of La Casa Latino Culture Center, will be presented with the 2004 Staff Merit Award at a ceremony on the Bloomington campus on October 13, 2004. The award recognizes staff for, among other things, exemplary job performance and a demonstrated special effort toward improving Indiana University for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, alumni and other university associates. Each year, two staff members are chosen from each of the three following categories: service staff, support staff and professional staff. A committee appointed by Chancellor Ken Gros Louis interviewed nominees and chose the award winner. Congratulations, Lillian, and thank you for all that you do! |
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Job Position: Social Security Administration Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently recruiting for the Claims Representative position throughout the State of Indiana. Claims Representatives perform public contact and social insurance work in over 1300 field offices across the nation. Starting salaries in the Indianapolis area range from $25,750 to $33,134 with full benefits. U.S. citizens with a 4 year college degree can send a resume to the manager of the Indianapolis downtown office at maurice.el.amin@ssa.gov. SSA is an equal opportunity employer. |
MEZCLA Preparing for Little 500 "The Mezcla team is training for a purpose other than simply beating the competition - they're riding for pride in their lineage." -Dan Patrick, Indiana Daily Student 2004 In April of 1995 the first Latino cycling team formed to enter the historically Caucasian Little 500 event. This monumental accomplishment for the IU Latino community united the students in support the team and finally having a reason to attend this major campus event. The team had three very successful seasons before the leading riders graduated. Almost a decade later, six women came together to continue the legacy of MEZCLA and become the first minority female team to ever compete in Little 500. Josefa Madrigal, Anette Soto, Liliana Cortez, Monica Reyes, Rosa Bonilla, and Barbara Alvarado took on the challenge of learning a sport they knew nothing about in order to represent the community they are so passionately proud of. After a grueling semester of bruises, aches, and pains these women felt nothing but pride on the field of Armstrong Stadium. Throughout the season MEZCLA was blessed with the support of many people and organizations. The university's Latino Culture Center, La Casa, was the main fundraising source of the team and even helped sponsor 40 free tickets for students interested in attending the race. Team Major Taylor, of the men's race, lent the women their extra cycling clothes, gear, and invested a large amount of time in helping advise the women in their preparation. Of course most importantly, Timothy Stockton and Brian Noojin committed many months into coaching and turning 6 women into cyclists. With donated gear and borrowed university bikes, MEZCLA was on its way to making history as the first Latina team to ever compete in the Indiana University Little 500. After completing what turned out to be an emotional and proud finish for every Latina/o in the stadium, MEZCLA was already focusing on next year's race. Plans of training this summer seemed feasible due to the fact that most of the team was going to stay in Bloomington for the summer. Unfortunately the MEZCLA team was not aware that the bikes that they had been using from the university are returned to the vendor after every race. The team is currently in Bloomington anxiously trying to find suitable bikes that they can use to prepare for next year's race. The women of MEZCLA are dedicated to ensuring that this cycling team will become a permanent participant in the Little 500. They would like to continue to see the presence of the Latina/o community in the stands and in the track of this major campus event. If their goal is met strong Latina women will become a visible part of the history of the Indiana University Little 500. If you are interested in contributing to MEZCLA, please contact Anette Soto. All businesses and individuals who make a donation will have their name printed on the back of the official MEZCLA shirts that will be sold for race day. In addition, the team will send email updates on the progress of the team and upcoming events. |
