SAPS March Newsletter
Përshëndetje!
We’re excited to share the latest highlights from our vibrant community of scholars and professionals. In April, we kicked off our College Mentorship Initiative with a powerful first workshop centered on Albanian Excellence—a theme that continues to guide and inspire our work. Inside, you’ll find a recap of the event, a special SAPS Scholar Spotlight, and the latest updates from Eagle Pod and Arbanon. Plus, don’t miss a few important SAPS reminders!
This month
SAPS College Mentorship Initiative Workshop #1 Recap
SAPS Scholar Spotlight
Latest on Eagle Pod
Latest on Arbanon
SAPS reminders
1. SAPS College Mentorship Initiative Workshop #1 Recap
On April 12, SAPS launched its College Mentorship Initiative with an inspiring first workshop themed around Albanian Excellence. The event brought together students and professionals to reflect on their academic journeys, cultural identity, and what it means to thrive as Albanian youth in the U.S.
We were honored to host three remarkable speakers:
Gazmend Kapllani – Acclaimed writer, scholar, and Director of the Albanian Studies Program at DePaul University.
Eralda Kraja – Healthcare leader and researcher with a diverse background in clinical care and patient advocacy.
Kevin Corraj – Youth changemaker and founder of the Albanian Tutors Organization, dedicated to educational equity.
Each speaker shared powerful insights from their journeys, offering encouragement and guidance to students navigating academic and professional pathways.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a meaningful conversation. More to come soon—stay tuned for the next workshop in the series!
Did you miss it? WATCH HERE!
2. SAPS Student Spotlight – Get Featured
This month, we continued our SAPS Student Spotlight series, highlighting Albanians who are achieving great things in their educational pursuits.
Sara Kqiraj, a dedicated junior at Wayne State University majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
Eron Karameta, a driven finance student at the University of Tennessee.
FILL OUT THE FORM AND GET FEATURED!
3. Latest on EaglePod
Our affiliated podcast, hosted by Lorena Culaj, just released a brand new episode on April 16, featuring Denis Haxhija! A rising real estate agent at Brown Harris Stevens, Denis shares insights from his journey navigating New York City’s competitive housing market and building a career rooted in trust, ambition, and community.
In this episode, he reflects on professional growth, cultural identity, and the values that guide his work as an Albanian-American in the real estate world.
Now streaming—be sure to give it a listen!
4. Arbanon Magazine this Month
Arbanon Magazine saw a new article written by Valton Vuçitërna, looking into a key period of Albanian history. Valton closely considers the legacy of Balli Kombëtar (National Front), the nationalist organization founded by Mit’hat Frashëri, the father of modern Albanian nationalism, to resist communism’s growing influence and the Axis invaders.
Balli’s legacy was subjected to an intense propaganda campaign throughout the communist regime, who saw them as their foremost political adversaries during the war. Valton takes us through the nuances that shaped the organization’s controversial role in Albanian history before zooming into its role in the struggle for Kosova.
Take a read of the article, which deals with crucial themes in modern Albanian historiography, and stay up-to-date with Arbaon for upcoming releases on key historical and current event issues!
5. SAPS Community GroupMe
Here is a monthly reminder to join our SAPS Community GroupMe! Our members have used this platform to promote impactful new projects, share music and traditions or to simply discuss what their Albanian identity means to them.
Whatever your interests are, you will find a space and peers to support you here.
As always, thank you for being a part of our growing network. Together, we’re celebrating excellence, uplifting one another, and building lasting connections across the diaspora. We’re grateful for your continued support, engagement, and commitment to uplifting one another. Stay tuned— there’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Gjithë të mirat,
The SAPS Team
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