SAPS August Newsletter
Përshëndetje!
Welcome back to our last newsletter for the summer! Here’s a recap of what we’ll cover: We will begin with SAPS’ most upcoming initiative, the Community Networking Summit happening on the 28th of September at Kosova’s Embassy to the US. Next, followed by the most recent lecture given by Faton Limani, some updates on our HS Mentorship Initiative, and latest guests on our affiliated podcast. Last but certainly not least, we’ll give you our usual SAPS reminders. Let’s begin!
1.Firstly, we would like to invite you all to join us at the SAPS Community Networking Summit at the Embassy of the Republic of Kosova in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 28th. SAPS has been working on this event for the last several months, ensuring all attendees gain concrete career benefits and build strong connections with one another. This summit aims to foster insightful discussion, led by remarkable leaders in our community and unparalleled networking opportunities for professionals and students alike.
We will host panels with esteemed diplomats, alongside some remarkable figures in our community, including model, philanthropist, and Honorary Consul of Albania to Florida, Emina Cunmulaj, community leader and Harvard administrator Faton Limani, Ermal Shehu, venture investor and Vice President of Strategic Pricing at Beacon Building Products, and Worcester 5th District city Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj.
Please RSVP here by Monday, September 16th to take part in one of the Albanian community’s most important gatherings!
2. We hosted the penultimate Faton Limani Leadership Lecture at the beginning of the month. Mr. Limani engaged participants in an innovative workshop which helped them identify what they seek from their careers.
Join us this upcoming Sunday, September 8th for the last lecture in Mr. Limani’s memorable series. Please RSVP here – we hope to see you there!
3. Updates on the SAPS High School Mentorship Initiative
We launched! For the first time, we have brought together 60+ students and professionals, all remarkable individuals who are eager to join forces with us and who recognize the value of mentorship starting from an early stage- one of our main pillars at SAPS! In case you have not met our incredible mentors already, do visit our website and check them out!
Check out our mentors here!
4. Andina Pepshi, creative director of Arbanon Magazine and member of the SAPS marketing team, recently appeared in a video on our latest installment of Dose of Albania (DOA) titled Thank You, USA. This edition focused on the friendship between the United States and Kosova, highlighting the pivotal moments and key figures who have shaped this unique bond. Through Thank You, USA, Andina emphasized the deep gratitude Kosovars feel for the unwavering support the U.S. has provided in their fight for freedom and independence.
She then expanded the content into an even more detailed article on the topic for Arbanon Magazine. The article dives deeper into the historical roots of this friendship, exploring how it has evolved over time and the lasting impact it has had on both nations.
5. Eagle Pod recently released two exciting new episodes, each featuring inspiring Albanian women making significant strides in their respective fields.
Episode 14 features our very own SAPS Marketing Team member, Bora Cecia, a passionate journalism major who shares her journey in the world of multimedia journalism. Bora discusses her experience cofounding Journal for Change, her podcast So Sporty, and her work with the match day media operations team at Chicago Fire FC.
Episode 15 features Valentina Juncaj, the founder of the jewelry brand Vajze. Valentina opens up about the challenges she had to overcome in building her brand and the Albanian influences that have shaped her work. She offers valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, sharing insights on resilience, creativity and the importance of staying true to one’s roots.
6. Reminders!
a. Do not forget to join our SAPS Community GroupMe! Our members continue to use this platform to promote impactful new projects, share music and cultural influences, or to simply talk about their Albanian identity. Whatever your interests are, you will find a space and peers to support you here.
b. We invite you to fill out the SAPS Scholar Spotlight Form and get featured on all our platforms! We would love to highlight your academic achievements or those of another Albanian scholar. It is important that we as a community recognize and encourage the work of our bright students — yourself included.
Congratulations to our most recent Scholar, Era Thaqi!
Era is an incoming second year at Princeton University majoring in
Electrical & Computer Engineering. Hailing from Prishtina, Era has stood
out in technology-centered NGO work and in international science
competitions, representing Kosova at the 2023 International Physics
Olympiad. We wish Era continuing success in her trailblazing path!
Those are our updates for this month. We hope to see as many of you as possible at the Community Networking Summit on September 28th. Only through broad participation will we be able to make a lasting impact on our community.
We wish all students a smooth and successful beginning of their school years. Until next time, all the best!
Gjithë të mirat,
The SAPS Team
