Over 90 people participated in the 2012 Winter Holiday event
ON DECEMBER 7, 2012, OVER 90 people attended the Winter Holidays Reception and the 2012 Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony that took place in Columbia College Chicago.
It was a night of camaraderie and enthusiasm.
In this opportunity Fulbright scholars came with their families and had the chance to interact with Fulbright students, Fulbright alumni and several representatives from the Consular Corps.
Nancy Day, Chairperson of the Journalism Department at Columbia College Chicago welcomes the audience
Nancy Day, chairperson of the Journalism Department at Columbia College Chicago and a Fulbrighter to Russia welcomed the participants. After being introduced by Elio Leturia, president of the Chicago Chapter and an associate professor at Columbia College, Day remembered the significant experience she had during her time abroad and encouraged the foreign students to explore Chicago and enjoy their stay in the Windy City.
Fulbright scholars attended the event with their families and children
Lexy Gore from WorldChicago was among the guests and acknowledged the fact that this gathering had offered the chance to bring students, scholars and alumni together. “This is a great event,” she said.
A Columbia College Chicago Jazz trio entertained the audience with beautiful music celebrating the holidays.
The Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony also took place that night. This is the third edition of the award that honors Dee Sarelas.
Thomas Ahleman, Vice President of the Chicago Chapter and 2011 Dee Sarelas Service Award recipient presents the award to Dr. Ana Gil García
Dr. Ana Gil-García was the 2012 recipent of the Dee Sarelas Service Award
Dr. Ana Gil García, a professor at Northeastern University was given the award, which was presented by Thomas Ahleman, vice president of the Chicago Chapter and last year’s winner. Gil García shared with the audience her memories of Dee Sarelas, a Fulbrighter to Greece who started the Chicago Chapter years ago. Gil García eloquently explained the efforts of Sarelas in bringing together the Fulbright community in Chicago.
“I am deeply honored to get this award,” Gil García said.
Gil García, who was also a president of the Chicago Chapter during the years 2007 and 2008 had come back from a visiting professorship abroad in Egypt where she continued her efforts with the Book Partnership program, an initiative that donates books to schools and universities around the world, which she started five years ago.
Dr. Ana Gil García with Amy Segami and Judith Yturriago
Dr. Ana Gil García and Ronald Harvey, Secretary of the Chicago Chapter
Columbia College Journalism Department Chairperson Nancy Day and Fulbright alumni
Norma Green with Linda and Frank Gruber
Marilyn Susman, 2010 Dee Sarelas Service Award recipient and her husband
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
A Columbia College trio played jazz music at the Holiday event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Students, scholars, alumni and guests enjoying the event
Photos by Ronald Harvey
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 
Once more the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association provided an incredible evening of collegiality and familiarity. Our host Columbia College kindly opened, one more time, its doors to receive Fulbright students and scholars as well as alumni and guests and celebrate the holidays. Elio Leturia will always be remembered as one of the most dedicated and hard working leader of our chapter. I am glad that years ago during my presidency I invited Elio to be a member of the board. Not only he learned the association ways of doing things, but he excelled and perfected what we traditionally did. Thank you Elio for your inspirational presidency. My welcome to Ron Harvey, our newly appointed President of the Chapter. I am also very positive that Ron will take us to another dimension of excellence in the role that the chapter will play in the Chicago community. I am honored of being one of the recipients of the Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service award! It implies higher social responsibility and stronger civic engagement through the Book Partnership. Thank you again for the award and a lovely evening to celebrate our chapter end of the year accomplishments!
Ana Gil Garcia