ABOUT US
Meet our new 2017 board!
PRESIDENT: FEDERICO TRIGO
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Juan Federico Trigo, who just goes by Federico or Fede, was born in Buenos Aires and lived there for five years. In 2002 he moved to Weston, a heavily hispanic community in South Florida. He is currently a Junior in Saybrook and is double majoring in Economics and History. Fede enjoys playing soccer for Yale’s premier club soccer team, FCYU, and is also a Project Manager for the Yale Undergraduate Consulting Group. Along with CASY founder Martin Urdapilleta, he started Tierralta, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students in Latin America apply to college in the US. Fede joined CASY his freshman year and has always been incredibly involved. He considers CASY to be a second family on campus and absolutely loves spending time with all the members. This year, he hopes that CASY can continue to successfully do what it has proven possible in the past, while at the same time raising the bar even further in terms of campus impact. Fede welcomes anyone to join the club for one of the weekend brunches, movie nights, or just about any other event the club hosts. Seria un golazo!
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VICE PRESIDENT: ANITA DE LEZICA
Anita de Lezica is originally from Buenos Aires and is CASY’s Vice President. She is currently a junior in Pierson College double majoring in Economics and Film & Media Studies. Outside of school, Anita is Secretary and Recruitment Chair of the Yale Undergraduate Consulting Club, a member of the Elmseed Enterprise Fund, and an avid moviegoer with a particular fondness for cheesy romantic comedies and horror films. Anita has been a part of CASY since she first set foot on campus as a freshman, and holds the Club close to her heart for it has provided both a home-away-from-home and invaluable friendships she cherishes to this day. As Vice President, she wishes to make CASY a welcoming place for both Argentines and Argentina-lovers, and hopes to extend the kindness and support former members have shown her to the newest additions to the Club.
SOCIAL CHAIR: VALENTINA WAKEMAN
Maria Valentina Wakeman, a sophomore in Pierson College, is this year’s Social Chair. Having lived in six different countries, she is hoping to double major in Latin American Studies and Ethics, Politics and Economics (EP&E). Her dream is to help impoverished children in developing nations worldwide, especially in regards to malnourishment and lack of education opportunities. On campus, she works as a student liaison to Yale’s Jackson Institute Greenberg World Fellows Programme, connecting the student community to a selected group of individuals who have made remarkable strides in the realm of global affairs. Actively involved in Yale’s international community and serving as a counselor in their yearly pre-orientation programme, she is looking forward to bringing good food, good music (especially deep house and “cumbia villera”), and lots of hugs to any and all interested in CASY’s work!
TREASURER: EMMA GARCIA-CANGA
Emma García-Canga is a sophomore in Trumbull College and is CASY’s Treasurer. She is a Political Science major and is interested in international relations- particularly between the US and Latin America. Her parents are from Santa Fe and she grew up visiting her family in Argentina frequently. Her dream is to be involved in foreign affairs but also low-key be in a band. She joined CASY as a freshman last year and immediately felt like part of the family. On campus, she serves as a student liaison for the Greenberg World Fellows Program, volunteers with the case-management agency No Closed Doors, and plans to co-host a show for WYBCx Radio. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and jamming out to Led Zeppelin. (Catch her on cross-campus drinking mate with the Mafalda termo.) She is excited for the year to come and cannot wait to throw mixers and meet new people who want to bailar reggaeton con CASY!
SECRETARY: MATEO BECCAR VARELA
Mateo Beccar Varela is a sophomore in Pierson and is this year’s secretary. He was born in Buenos Aires but left Argentina when he was four years old. Mateo has lived in a diverse range of places, like Spain, Qatar, and Florida. He currently lives with his family in Newport, Rhode Island. At Yale, he studies Economics and likes to code on the side. Mateo is a current member of the Yale Rugby Football Club, a team he believes to be on par with the Pumas. CASY offers Mateo an opportunity to reconnect with his Argentine roots and meet amazing peers with backgrounds similar to him. He excitedly looks forward to the weekly brunches as they offer a relaxed change of pace, great conversation, and great company.
EX-PRESIDENT / COLLABORATOR: CAMILA FRANCO
Cami is a senior from Buenos Aires and the Head FroCo for Silliman College! She was the CASY President for 2 years, from 2015-2016, and previously served as the Social Chair. She is a Biomedical Engineering major on a Pre-Med track, a Spanish interpreter for Haven Free Clinic, an ex-OIS counselor/head counselor, Secretary of the Italian Lo Stivale club, Publicity Chair for Yale Medical Professions Outreach (YMPO), and was involved in the board of the International Students Organization previously as Outreach Chair (currently as Web Manager). She also works as a web designer for the Yale School of Medicine. Cami is looking forward to helping the new board with organizing fun events for Argentine Yalies and everyone interested in Argentina!