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Quicklinks:News from our Alums (continuted)
Marlene Rodriguez '88
Hi Trudy:
As you know I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This is a very debilitating disease for which there is no cure yet. I had a very difficult few years going from Doctor to Doctor and hospital to hospital . . (until) I was finally diagnosed with MS."
to read Marlen's letter,
click hereto find how to donate to the 2007 MS Walk, click here
Alumni Halloween Sightings - Oct.2005
"Alumni Halloween sightings" - At a local Halloween party at the Caribe Hilton Hotel over the weekend, I happened to bump into two Baldwin alums from the class of 1997! Mrs. Laura Vilaró (as a pirate) and Mr. Alex Martínez (IT clown). We would like to congratulate Alex for winning the best Individual Costume prize of the night! He sure deserved it. If any other alums have Halloween pictures they would like to share with the Alumni Office, please feel free to send them with us to post on the website.
Alumni in the News
Zania Sala’01, a recent Music Business graduate from Berklee School of Music in Boston, and Baldwin alum, wrote an interesting article featured in the school’s publication, the Music Business Journal. As a talented young woman with a passion for singing, she decided to speak about her experience partaking in the local reality TV show “Objetivo Fama” (Target: Fame), where her vocal talents and dreams of becoming a performer were showcased for 10 out of the 13 weeks before being eliminated by the person that would eventually win the competition.
Amongst her previous experiences and brushes with stardom was her audition for American Idol in the Fall of 2002. She aced every audition in NYC and was flown to L.A., but was cut in the first round by Clay Aiken, who would turn out to be the first runner up in the final that year. After having gone so far in Obejetivo Fama, her participation ad representation was admirable indeed. Her recent public musical appearances have included: singing for a sold out crowd of 8,000 at an Objetivo Fama concert with the other contestants, singing the US National Anthem at a boxing math, singing the Canadian anthem at the Expos National League baseball game, and also auditioning as a back-up singer for Robi “Draco” Rosa. Zania amazingly stepped up to the plate a couple of months after Objetivo Fama’s finale to sing a song with the “salsa prince” himself, Luis Enrique, when the competition’s first runner up suddenly unable to perform the song on stage.
Zania has had the opportunity to meet several artists including: Gilbertito Santa Rosa, Ruben Baldes, Tony Croato, Alex Ubago, Paulina Rubio, and Tommy Torres, to name a few. A small twist of faith would have its way when she became the host of a local TV show, and later hosted a temporary position for the new MTV Puerto Rico Channel 24. Upon graduating from Berklee, Zania is currently interning in Miami with MTV Latin and recording a demo with Ricky Martin and Ednita Nazario’s Latin Grammy winning producer and Berklee alum, Tommy Torres!
In closing, Zania says: “ I know I have lived a short life (I am 21) and may not be in the best position to give advice, but I honestly believe that experience, sacrifice and hard work does make you stronger and usually more successful. I also credit my Berklee background for making me an all-round musician and sending the message to the people that have worked with me that I am not particularly after fame.”
To read Zania’s article,click here (a pdf file) then scroll to page 12 in the Music Journal Newsletter ( www.thembj.com)
Balwin Alumni Reunited
Baldwin alum and close friends were reunited for a special ocassion at the wedding of a mutual friend. In order (Top): Lucas Alvarez-Tabio ' 93, Ana Montalvo '92, Luis Rodríguez '91. (Bottom): Elio Sánchez '92, Mario Torres '93, and Javier Torres '91.
Paoli Award 2005 goes to . . .
As we predicted, Stella Diaz’s ’02 star keeps on shining. We last heard from her a year ago as a participant of the hit NBC show “Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Model Search” in which she was the only Puerto Rican to participate. Now, Stella has received the Paoli Award for Model of the Year 2005, Orlando Edition. The Paoli Awards, founded in 1983, honor the effort, work and success of professionals dedicated to all media including: music and recording, television, radio, written communication, fashion and beauty. Originally an award designated for the outstanding achievements of Puerto Ricans, the award has branched out internationally since 1993 and now includes Hispanics and Latin Americans around the world.
Many doors continue to open for Stella and she has now become a celebrity in Orlando. She has been interviewed in various newspapers in Orlando including La Prensa. One particular interview was even taped and aired on television. At every opportunity, Stella graciously offered to pose for photographs with many of her fans, especially the younger ones who She posed with all that wanted to take her picture, including her younger fans, who followed her all over the press conference room. Stella’s hard work and commitment continue to help her shine. She dedicated her Paoli Award acceptance speech to her mother and also acknowledged the continued support of her family, friends and especially her fans, who have been with her from the beginning of her career, and continue to follow her every step of the way.
Stella has been nominated for the Puerto Rico Edition of the Paoli Awards 2005 for Model of the Year here in Puerto Rico. The ceremony will take place in November 2005, so stay tuned! (http://www.premiospaoli.com/).
Modeling is an art for Stella; the runway is her medium and photography, her canvas.
“Modeling is my way of self-expression.”
(Stella Diaz, 2005, http://www.stelladiaz.com/)
