[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF OLGA ALVAREZ, ANCHOR WOMAN AND REPORTER FOR UNIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 17, 2000

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Olga Alvarez, 
anchorwoman and reporter for Univision (Channel 41 in NYC). Ms. Alvarez 
has made it a priority to keep Latinos well informed about current 
events and news that affects their community, empowering them to 
participate fully in American society. For her contributions to 
broadcast journalism, the National Association of Cuban Journalists in 
Exile will pay tribute to Ms. Alvarez at an event on Sunday, October 
15, 2000.
  Olga Alvarez was born in Havana, Cuba and was raised in Puerto Rico. 
Her parents were musicians, who regularly performed on live television. 
As a child, Ms. Alvarez was influenced greatly by her parents' 
television performances, making television her favorite medium.
  Ms. Alvarez began her career as a production assistant and producer, 
working on projects that included documentaries and video news releases 
produced in the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. During this 
time, Ms. Alvarez was a correspondent for Telemundo's ``La Buena 
Vida,'' a program highlighting the accomplishments of Latinos. In 
addition, she worked as a segment producer for the daily magazine show 
``Club Telemundo,'' developing and writing stories regarding medicine, 
family relations, and important community issues.
  At Univision's WXTV 41, Ms. Alvarez began as a writer and later 
became a reporter, hosting the station's community service program and 
reporting tri-state area news on ``Despierta America.''
  In 1997 and 1998, Ms. Alvarez was awarded the ``Latin A.C.E.'' from 
the New York Latino Entertainment Reporters Association. In 1999, Ms. 
Alvarez won an Emmy for ``La Clave De La Salsa,'' a series on the 
history of salsa music. In addition, she was awarded First Plaque in 
the New Jersey Associated Press Broadcasting Association Awards, and 
second place in the New Jersey Press Awards. Recently, she received an 
Honorable Mention from the Associated Press for ``Regalo De Vida,'' a 
series on the importance of liver donation and transplantation.
  Today, I honor Olga Alvarez for her extraordinary career in broadcast 
journalism, and I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring her.

                          ____________________