news releases

11 June 2019

Meet our LHIP Class of 2019



Category: News Releases

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP), a partnership between HAF's MANO Project and the National Park Service is designed to train young people in the skills of cultural, historical, and natural resource management. The program raises awareness of our national parks and historic sites, their accessibility and the need for the Latino community’s involvement in their preservation. This summer 16 HAF interns will work alongside NPS historians, interpreters, archaeologists, architects, and curators on cultural resources projects in different park units, offices and historical sites throughout the nation. 

America Avila

She is a first generation Ecuadorian-Mexican student attending SUNY Potsdam for a B.A. in Environmental Studies. She chose this field because of her interest in environmental justice, outdoor recreation and astronomical love for nature. This summer she will be interning at Salem Maritime and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Sites.

Vanessa Colegio

Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and raised in Laredo, Texas. She is a recent graduate from Texas A&M International University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Psychology. This summer she will be a Volunteer Outreach & Recruitment Intern for The National Mall & Memorial Parks.

Sienna Córdoba

She has master's degree in Latin American and Environmental History from the University of California- Santa Barbara. She received her BA in History from NYU with a double major in Dramatic Literature. This summer she will be interning at Fort Larned National Historical Park.

Melissa Hurtado

She was born in Cali, Colombia. She is currently studying biological anthropology and archaeology at Boston University. Her interests are but not limited to: zooarchaeology, Americas pre-Columbus, population genetics, and primatology. This summer she will be interning at Washington Support Office, Archaeology Program.

Angel Lopez

He is a student veteran and Geographical Information Science major at the University of Maryland. He currently works as an outdoor Trip Leader for the Adventure Program at UMD. As a Peer Advisor for Veteran Education at UMD, he helps incoming student veterans transition to campus lifestyle seamlessly. This summer he will be interning at El Malpais National Monument - El Morro National Monument.

Evelyn Maldonado

She is studying Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland. She grew up in Ecuador and after graduating from high school she decided to come back to the U.S. to pursue her bachelor’s degree. This summer she will be interning at Kings Canyon National Park.

William Marcos Gonzalez

He is originally from Jacksonville, FL and a member of the graduating class of 2013 from the United States Coast Guard Academy. In 2018, he left the service to attend graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He recently completed his first year of studies in Landscape Architecture and this summer he will be interning at Minute Man National Historical Park.

Natalie Matias

She is a first-generation undergraduate student of Honduran and Puerto Rican descent. She was born and raised in Miami. She is a trilingual; speaking English, Spanish, and Italian. This summer she will be interning at Southeast Archeological Center.

Emelyn Najera

She is a California native and a first-generation Mexican American. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California where she earned a Bachelor of Architecture in May 2017. Her interest in architecture and the built heritage inspired her to pursue graduate degrees in Historic Preservation and City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, where she currently attends. This summer she will be interning at Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation.

Cesar Ortiz

He is an undergraduate at New Mexico State University studying Wildlife Science. He is from El Paso, Texas, his father is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and his mother is also from El Paso, Texas. After graduation, he plans on pursuing a Master's degree and a job in a government agency such as the National Park Service or US Forest Service. This summer he will be interning at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Mónica Ortiz Cortés

She was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Last year she obtained her degree in Architecture. Now she is a student at the University of Pennsylvania and plans to graduate with a Historic Preservation Master of Science in 2020. This summer she will be interning at Washington Support Office, Historic American Building Survey.

Tania Parra Ramirez

She was born in Mexico City and moved to California when she was 9 years old. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in ecology and evolutionary biology and is currently working on getting her master’s degree in environmental science. This summer she will be interning at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Stephanie Pomales

She is a recent high honors graduate from the University of California, Davis, where she majored in Communications and minored in Global & International Studies. This summer she will be interning with the National Park Service's Office of Communications and Office of International Affairs.

David Riera

He is ​currently a ​doctoral student at Florida International University. He holds five collegiate degrees and ten professional certifications (from veterinary technician to open water deep-sea diver) in various STEM and industrial disciplines. He is also a United States Marine Combat Veteran and first-generation Afro-Hispanic college graduate. This summer he will be interning at Everglades National Park.

Isabel Robles

She is a first-generation student at the University of Idaho. At her university she is working towards a B.A. in International Studies and Broadcasting and Digital Media with minors in Spanish and journalism. This summer she will be interning at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Alexandra Santiago-Georget

She is a Puerto Rican filmmaker currently in pursuit of her Master’s degree at the University of Miami, graduating in 2019. She always had a passion for storytelling, which led her to pursue a first degree in Journalism from the University of Puerto Rico. Upon finishing her Bachelor’s, she realized film and the visual medium was how she wanted to tell and share these stories. This summer she will be interning at National Parks of Boston.

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