Tag Archives: Elio Leturia

So long, farewell, class of 2011

Twelve graduating Fulbright students with board members of the Fulbright Association and guests shared a meal at Reza's Restaurant on May 6, 2011

This year, 33 international Fulbright students graduated and got ready to go back home. Some of them were staying for a little longer while getting practical training.

Fulbrighter Dorine Duives showing her certificate of completion, with Elio Leturia, Chapter President

To bid them adieu and congratulate them on their achievements, on the evening of May 6, 2011, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association invited them to celebrate with a dinner, as part of our annual Spring Farewell event.

Twelve students were able to attend the event that took place at Reza’s Restaurant in the River North area in Chicago. Reza’s is an established eatery that is known for its Middle-Eastern fare and variety of dishes.

Every Fulbrighter was recognized with a certificate of completion in an evening full of great moments of camaraderie and sharing.

Theater with Passion

After the "La Pasión Según Antígona Pérez" theater performance, from left to right, Elio Leturia, Ana Gil-García, Javier Ruiz-Tagle, Leslie Parragüez, Vínicius Miranda Bragança and Márton Siklós.

On April 15, 2011, five Fulbright students and board member Dr. Ana Gil-García were invited to “La Pasión según Antígona Pérez,” (The Passion According to Antigone Perez) theater play.  Performed by Aguijón Theater, the play written by Puerto Rican author Luis Rafael Sánchez, is inspired by the original Sophocles Greek version of “Antigone.”

Taking place in a dictatorship in a Latin American country, the play directed by Marcela Muñoz, situates the performance in an impressive setting (newspaper front pages) that represents the control of the media by the dictator, Creón Molina.

Our Chicago Chapter Fulbright Association President Elio Leturia invited the group. In addition to being a college professor at Columbia College Chicago, Leturia is also an active actor in this theater organization.  With 22 years of existence, Aguijón Theater is the oldest continuously operating theater company in Spanish in Chicago.

Raúl Romero as the Generalísimo Creón Molina and Elio Leturia as Monseñor Bernardo Escudero in a scene from "La Pasíon Según Antígona Pérez" by Aguijón Theater.

International Women’s Day and Fair at the Union League Club of Chicago

Dr. Joaquín Villegas, Monica Swope, Maria Petrova, Dr. Ana Gil-García, Kay McSpadden, Don Garner, Julie Oh and Ceyda Aykan

The Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association participated in partnership with World Chicago in the celebration of the International Women’s Day that took place at the Union League Club of Chicago on March 7, 2011.

Board member Dr. Ana Gil-García and Elio Leturia, Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter president

Our chapter also participated in the fair that started in the morning. During this time, board members had the opportunity to promote Fulbright and our chapter and distribute information about our activities and the Fulbright programs.  The fair was followed by a luncheon where keynote speaker Deborah L. DeHaas, gave a preentation “The Business Case for Diversity: Why Developing Women Leaders is Imperative to the Success of Global Companies” in which she discussed the important role of women in the corporate world and the efforts that are being made to offer them equal of opportunities.

Dr. Erika Cook, Maria Petrova, Monica Swope, Julie Oh, Ceyda Aykan and Kay McSpadden after the luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago

Three current Fulbright students accepted our invitation to participate in the event. Ceyda Aykan, from Turkey, studies painting at the Art Institute of Chicago, Maria Petrova from Russia, who specializes in American Literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Julie Oh from Canada, who is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Photography at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Elio Leturia elected new Fulbright Association Chicago Chapter president

Joseph Graff from IIE, new president Elio Leturia and board member Cristina Sisson

Elio Leturia, board member of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, was elected president of the chapter for the year 2011. Monica Swope, past president made the announcement during the Holiday brunch at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Elio Leturia talking to the audience after being announced as the new president of the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association.

Leturia has been with our chapter since 2008 and is in charge of communications and media relations. A native Peruvian, Leturia got a Fulbright scholarship in 1990 and came to the U.S. to pursue a master’s in journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Three years after returning to Peru, where he was a university professor at Universidad de Lima and design director of El Comercio newspaper, Leturia relocated to Chicago hired by the Tribune Company. A journalist and a graphic designer, Leturia currently teaches in the journalism department of Columbia College Chicago.

“It’s a real honor to represent the Fulbright community,” Leturia said during the Holiday brunch.  Referring directly to the current Fulbright students he added, “I have been in your shoes and I understand your experience completely. Do your best representing your countries, share what you know and enjoy your time here.” Photos by Margo McFarland