The HAA clubs committee Awards honor individuals who provide exemplary service to a Harvard club or shared interest group (SIG), as well as clubs and SIGs that have organized exceptional programming. They were presented to the 2008 recipients (listed below) at the HAA Board of Directors and Alumni Leadership Conference dinner on February 1.
Modesta Garcia, Ed.M. ’79, of Daly City, California. Garcia has been president of both the Harvard Club of Silicon Valley and the Harvard Club of San Francisco. At the latter, she broke new ground by initiating club awards for human-rights leadership, cofounding a Latino Committee, and co-chairing a college mentorship program. (She was also the first person of color, and only the third woman, to serve as club president.) As a professor and counselor in the department of career and life planning at the College of San Mateo, she has also been instrumental in helping students achieve their highest educational aspirations.
Mia Riverton ’99, of Venice, California. In 1999, Riverton cofounded Harvardwood, a SIG focused on the arts, media, and entertainment that now has about 800 members. An actress, Riverton has also spearheaded educational events such as Harvardwood 101 (a career-exploration program for undergraduates) and a summer-internship program, along with networking opportunities, seminar series, programs for writers, career-counseling partnerships, and an annual holiday gala.
