Hungarian American Coalition

🌱 Get HYPEd! Meet Evi Lukonits, Co-Founder of the HYPE Network. 🌱

Eva Lukonits is the Social Media Manager of The Ocean Foundation, leading communication and marketing campaign strategies since April 2021. She co-created and implemented the organization's first digital content strategy with great success, growing the audience by over 40% and reaching 8 million people. Known for her leadership, she manages creative and social media content creation, executes organic social media campaigns and paid ad strategies, all while closely collaborations across different program teams to represent The Ocean Foundation’s many initiatives and key focus arras accurately.

Additionally, she is the Co-Founder of ICON Strategies a DC-base boutique PR firm. In this extra capacity, she oversees the entire creative process, designs marketing assets, and manages vendor relations. Previously, she served as Press and Public Diplomacy Officer at the Embassy of Hungary in Washington D.C., where she managed and supervised the official social media accounts, and coordinated numerous high-profile events, delegations, and press materials.

She holds a Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University and a Bachelor's in Landscape Architecture from Corvinus University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and dog, Daisy.

More info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

💡Meet another HYPE Network Co-founder: Sam Heimowitz 💡

Sam (a magyarok Samunak hívják!) is a 2023 graduate of Yale University with a simultaneous B.A./M.A. degree in East Asian Studies (China track) and a B.A. in Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies (Eastern Europe & Eurasia track), both with distinction. He speaks modern and ancient Chinese, Hungarian, and some Turkish. For one of his theses, he conducted an independent research project for over three months in Slovenia, Hungary, and Poland. He also attended the George Washington University as a full-time college student, and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in addition to a high school diploma during with my junior and senior years of high school.

Sam has been a tap dancer for 19 years and am a founding member of the D.C. youth tap ensemble, Capitol Tap. While at Yale, he served as the Co-President of Taps at Yale for two years and as the choreographer of the step team, Steppin’ Out, for three years, choreographing a set debuted at Lincoln Center in NYC! Back in DC, he teaches students of all ages to tap dance at Knock On Wood Tap Studio (both in-person and through Zoom), and has taught free classes to preschool students.

Recently, he has expanded his artistic endeavors and has become a member of the Hungarian folk dancing group, Tisza Ensemble and the Central/Eastern European folk dancing group, Carpathia. He has performed at the Embassy of Hungary in the United States, the Kossuth Foundation, the Cherry Blossom Festival, Hungarian bazaars and festivals in the DMV area and in New Jersey, and Ukrainian festivals in DC, MD, VA, and PA. If he isn’t dancing, Sam can be found reading international news, studying different languages, tutoring math, and exploring different vegan spots around DC!

More info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

💫Meet the Co-Founder of the HYPE Network: Klara Schmidt.💫

Klara worked in the Bay Area before coming to DC to continue her work in the tech industry. Her interests lie in AI policy while her work is in Software Engineering. Outside of work, Klara enjoys running, climbing, and exploring her new hobby: traditional Hungarian dance. She was a Board Member of the facilities at the Hungarian Academy of DC, President of the Hungarian Student Society, and the Social Chair for Case Hall Government.

More info at: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

💡Meet Janos Szani, Co-Founder of the HYPE Network 💡

“I am Janos (Johnny) Szani, a proud Hungarian-American with experience in communications and foreign affairs. My career has spanned roles in the United States Congress and advising the President of Hungary, emphasizing strategic, creative communications to effectively convey policy concepts and international diplomacy. Studying International Studies at American University has equipped me with a robust framework for interpreting global affairs, which enhances my contributions to foreign policy discussions. Committed to advancing bipartisan dialogue, I leverage my background in public relations and my platform as a social media influencer to foster transparent communication and engage global audiences.”

More info at: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

Thank you for offering free tickets for the Hungarian Summit to a selected five HYPErs! 🏆

🤝We are proud to announce that the Hungarian American Coalition officially launched the Hungarian Young Professional Engagement (HYPE) Network at the ! 🎉

The HYPE Leadership Program is a six-month, intensive opportunity designed to foster professional growth and enhance community leadership skills. Engage in interactive online discussions, meet industry leaders, and expand your professional network! 🌐🤝

We are proud to award free tickets to five selected HYPErs to the Hungarian Summit in the coming years to support their professional engagement and growth! 🇭🇺🇺🇸

Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity! For more information and a full introduction to the HYPE Network, read our detailed post: https://hungariansummit.com/introducing-the-hype-network/

Join the dynamic and supportive community at https://hacusa.org/hype-network/. 🌟

🫵🏻 Get HYPEd! 🫵🏻
Meet Gábor Mózsi, Co-founder of the HYPE Network

Gabe Mozsi, originally from Budapest, discovered his passion for photography in Hungary before making his mark in the United States. In 2015 he found a new home in Chicago, drawn by family ties and the city’s vibrant Hungarian community.

Currently serving as the Operations Manager for a multi-state portrait photography studio chain, Gábor has earned accolades for his creative and managerial expertise. His commitment extends beyond the professional realm, actively participating in social events and fundraisers, showcasing a dedication to community impact.

As President of the Hungarian Club of Chicago, Gábor envisions a future that combines traditional Hungarian engagements with modernized activities and enhanced public relations. In the post-Covid era, he is determined to revive cultural and social events, creating an inclusive space that reflects the Club’s rich history in today’s Chicago Hungarian community.

Mor info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

🏆 Call for Nomination 🏆

🏅LTP Alumni Award
🏅Future Community Leader Award

⏳ Deadline: July 30, 2024

Nominations Open for LTP Alumni and Future Community Leader Awards - HACUSA The Coalition is excited to open nomination for its annual awards. The first is for an outstanding alumni of the John N. Lauer Leadership Training Program (LTP). The second is for outstanding young leaders in the community, to be nominated by member organizations of the Coalition. The honors will .....

💡Behind the HYPE: Nicholas Rice, Co-Founder of the HYPE Network 💡

Nick Rice is a senior majoring in Parks, Recreation, Tourism Management at the Warnell School for Forestry and Natural Resources at University of GA. He is also pursuing a dual degree with a Masters of Natural Resources. He serves as Warnell Ambassador and is a regular volunteer for Atlanta-based events in the Hungarian American community and at Habitat for Humanity. He is a proud Eagle Scout with the Boys Scouts of America. Nick's aspirations include working at a National Park and launching his own business in ecotourism.

Learn more: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

Üdvözöljük Bence Vivient Washingtonban!

Bence Vivien, a HHRF új gyakornoka, Budapesten kezdte el tevékenységét, és most a kisebbségi jogok iránti szenvedélyét New Yorkba és az ország fővárosába viszi. Vivien Kárpátaljáról származik, tevékenysége révén fontos szerepet fog játszani a magyar kisebbségek jogainak védelmében és előmozdításában az Egyesült Államokban.

Június 25-én Vivien részt vett az Atlantic Council Szabadság és Jólét Központjának ünnepélyes megnyitóján, ahol bemutatták a 2024-es Szabadság és Jólét Indexeket.

Welcoming Vivien Bence to Washington D.C.!

Vivien, a dedicated HHRF Fellow, started her journey in Budapest and now brings her passion for minority rights to New York and the nation's capital.

Originally from Transcarpathia(Zakarpattia, Ukraine), we can count on Vivien's ongoing contributions in getting the word out about Hungarian minorities.

On June 25, our new fellow Vivien Bence attended the launch of the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center, where the 2024 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes were unveiled.

🌱Meet another HYPE Network Co-Founder: Akos Szecsi 🌱

Akos Szecsi is a dedicated young professional and student at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in Economics and Business Administration. With a passion for leadership and community engagement, Akos has successfully taken on various leadership roles, including co-founding the innovative social media app WhoThrowin, managing finances as the elected treasurer of the UNC Sailing Club, and excelling in team-based academic projects. Akos’s commitment to fostering collaboration and driving team success, coupled with a strong enthusiasm for the Hungarian community, makes him a valuable addition to the HYPE Leadership Program.

For more info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

🌟 Proud to share that the Coalition has donated $3,000 to support "If These Streets Could Talk," an incredible XR story experience produced by former LTP intern Noemi Szakonyi.

This immersive, participatory Mixed Reality experience in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter brings invisible history to life. 🌟

Check out their project:

If These Streets Could Talk An immersive, participatory location-based Mixed Reality experience in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter that makes invisible history visible. (photo: Imre Kinszki - source: FSZEK, Budapest Collection) When someone – either a local or a tourist – walking today in Budapest’s Rumbach street says “Le...

⚡️Get HYPEd! Introducing Elek Krizsan, Co-founder of the HYPE Network! ⚡️

Elek Krizsan is currently pursuing a degree in International Affairs and Economics at George Washington University. A lifelong Hungarian Scout, Elek has strengthened his Hungarian roots by connecting with fellow Hungarians globally. He holds the title of Cserkész segédtiszt and serves as the President of the GW Hungarian Students Association. Additionally, Elek is the fraternity recruitment chair and the European Regional Program Director for the GW Onero Institute.

For more info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

✨Behind the HYPE: Meet Dóra Szegedy, co-founder of the HYPE Network✨

Dóra is a recent graduate from Georgetown University with a BA in Linguistics and minors in Psychology and Environmental Studies ('23). Her Linguistics thesis focused on the impact of various climate change communication frames and their effect on societal willingness to change behavior in an experimental study. Dóra currently resides in Washington, DC, and works for the Center for the Study of Services as a Research Analyst. In her free time, she loves dancing with her local Hungarian folk dance group, the Tisza Ensemble, and rock climbing.

More info: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

⭐️Introducing Barnabas Novak, co-founder of the HYPE Network ⭐️

Barnabas Novak is currently majoring in computer science and minoring in real estate at Cal State LA. An ambitious individual, he constantly seeks new challenges. he has a passion for sports, particularly football, and holds an impressive 152nd place in the Teqball Men’s Doubles World Ranking.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Barnabas has demonstrated strong leadership skills. He served as President of the NSCS club from October 2022 to May 2023 and is the current President of the Charging Eagles club since September 2023. Barnabas is also an active volunteer at HungarianHub blog, contributing to the community through their efforts.

Learn more: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

🌟Introducing a co-founder of the HYPE Network Daniel Barabási 🌟

Dániel Barabási is a Hungarian-American postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute, whose work blends neuroscience, network science, and machine learning. He received his B.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame in 2017, where he worked on network models of brain connectivity, and was awarded a PhD in Biophysics from Harvard in 2023. Dániel is currently funded by a New Science Fellowship. Outside of research, Dániel is an artist and a community builder. In 2023, along with Balázs Csizik, he exhibited "Biophilia," reflecting on the parallels between biological and urban growth. He has also organized three workshops at Harvard and at international conferences and manages the Boston Hungarian Scientific Speaker Series.

Learn more about the HYPE Network: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

✨Meet another Co-Founder of the HYPE Network: Botond Nás ✨

Botond Nás is a technology consultant and is the Co-Founder of Nas Technologies. He works on software projects ranging from e-commerce and web applications to data analysis and machine learning. Botond has a strong background in software design and development and has successfully engineered and launched scalable and efficient solutions to complex technical challenges.

Most recently, he spearheaded the development and rollout of Iconbrick.com, a cutting-edge 3D web app, and Bricky Bird, a 3D browser game. Alongside his Nas Technologies projects, he consults in the defense industry on image processing and algorithms.

Learn more: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

The “Hungarian American Coalition Award” was presented to three students at the graduation ceremony of the Bolyai Farkas High School in Marosvásárhely (Tirgu Mures, Romania). Totaling $2,000, the awards were presented to seniors Tamás Attila Marton, Tamás Szász and 11th grader Csongor Barta-Zágoni who were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and community service. Students must apply for the award, and applications are evaluated by a faculty committee according to a rules-based point system.

Outstanding Students at Marosvásárhely’s Bolyai High School Receive Hungarian American Coalition Awards for the 6th Year - HACUSA Washington, DC – On June 7, 2024, the "Hungarian American Coalition Award" was presented to three students at the graduation ceremony of the Bolyai Farkas High School in Marosvásárhely (Tirgu Mures, Romania).

✨Behind the HYPE: Meet Nicole Vereczkey, Co-Founder of the HYPE Network.✨

Nicole Vereczkey is a driven professional currently perusing her MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management, where she is also involved with Student Life as President, MIT Momentum Startup Accelerator, Management Consulting Club, and the Enterprise Management Student Advisory Board. She holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied International Relations and Russian and East European Studies.

She is currently interning at Bain & Company, and has held prior roles at UBS and JPMorgan as an Analyst. Nicole's professional interests lie in finance, international relations and trade, and entrepreneurship, reflecting her diverse expertise and commitment to leadership in both academic and corporate environments. Born and raised in New York, Nicole has always stayed close to her Hungarian heritage and visits Hungary regularly to maintain strong connections with her family, language, and cultural traditions.

Learn more about the program: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

🌟 Meet Ádám Béres, Co-Founder of the HYPE Network! 🌟

"I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California to two Hungarian parents and always stayed close to my heritage. After completing my undergraduate degrees in Human Biology and Healthcare Studies at the University of Southern California, I entered medical school at The Ohio State University. My international roots and studying abroad at Oxford University inspired me to start my charity foundation (Ambassadors of the Future) to provide scholarships for the international education of intellectually gifted but financially challenged students at age 16. Throughout my studies, I have continued to run and expand my foundation, distributing scholarships for countless Hungarian and American students to achieve their dreams."

We are thrilled to have such a dedicated and inspiring individual as a co-founder of the HYPE Network! Stay tuned for more co-founder stories.

Learn more: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

Check out the latest interview with Luca Mrcz on the HYPE Network. Learn more about the Program: https://hacusa.org/hype-network/

https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/interview/youth_interview_hungarian-american-coalition_luca-morocz/

HU:

https://www.bocskairadio.org/a-fiatalok-erdeklodnek-de-nem-ismerik-elegge-az-amerikai-magyar-szervezeteket/

‘Young people are interested, but just not familiar enough with Hungarian organizations’ — An Interview with Hungarian American Coalition Fellow Luca Mórocz | Hungarian Conservative Luca Mórocz, who came to the U.S. in 2017 as a Hungarian American Coalition (HAC) intern and has worked as a foreign exchange diplomat at the Hungarian Mini ...

🌟 Big Day at the Hungarian Summit! 🌟

We officially launched the HYPE network, took part in the Regional Diaspora meeting, and showcased at the business expo. Lots of exciting developments!

Andrea Lauer Rice
Gabe Mozsi
Réka Veres Lenox
Luca Mrcz

Exciting First Day at the Hungarian Summit!

We had great discussions on soft power and introduced the new HYPE Network of the Coalition.

Réka Veres Lenox
Luca Mrcz
Gabe Mozsi
Andrea Lauer Rice

We are thrilled to discuss the latest hot topics within the Hungarian Community and announce our new program tomorrow at the Hungarian Summit! Stay tuned for updates!

Speaker Announcement 📣 Community Section at

Tiffany Joubert is a passionate and results-driven Philanthropic Leader with over 18 years of experience in conservation, donor relations, and fundraising. With over a decade of expertise in developing and implementing sustainability strategies and project management Tiffany has been able to develop deep valued relationships. As a Philanthropic Advisor at The Community Foundation United Way of Volusia Flagler Counties, she has significantly increased assets and fostered strong relationships with high-net-worth individuals and organizations. These relationships have created an atmosphere where she has been able to help donors realize their passions and leave their legacies. Tiffany’s previous roles include Director of Development and V.P. of Wildlife at Bridges for Brain Injury, and V.P. of Development at Engenio Maria De Hostos Charter School, where she established key partnerships and implemented impactful fundraising initiatives. Tiffany’s commitment and passion is further demonstrated through her strategic leadership at Bloemfontein Zoo and Cheetah Experience in South Africa where she created volunteer programs, endowments and established fundraising campaigns., At 19 Tiffany was the youngest person to have a graduate internship as a Conservation Education teacher at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. She holds an MBA in Fundraising, a BSc in Environmental Biology, and dual BAs in Studio Art and Dramatics. Tiffany’s volunteer work includes significant contributions to various community organizations, reflecting her dedication to creating a more sustainable future for Volusia County including; Chair Elect for Kiwanis Daytona Beach, and acting Board member of Volusia County Woman Who Care. Tiffany and her husband also own their own dance company Hold My Hand Dance Management, where they teach social Latin, Ballroom, and a South African partner dance called Sokkie. They specialize in wedding choreography and are the top 5% of wedding choreographers across America.

Panel Discussion🌟

Join us for the conversation about redefining connectivity at the Hungarian Summit next week in Daytona Beach! Discover the secrets of next-gen connections and be the first to witness the Coalition's groundbreaking network for young Hungarians in the US.

The Panel: Gabe Mozsi, Luca Mrcz, Réka Veres Lenox

www.hungariansummit.com

📣 Speaker Announcement 📣 Community Section of the

Luca Morocz ( ) is a former Hungarian diplomat with a strong background in international relations and human rights advocacy. Currently serving as a Fellow at the Hungarian American Coalition in Washington D.C.

Prior to this role, Luca served as a Working Group Liaison Officer and Acting Unit Chief at the U.S. Department of State’s Counterterrorism Bureau. In this capacity, he facilitated high-level engagements between Department leadership and national and international officials, contributing significantly to the Coalition’s efforts in combating terrorism. Before joining the State Department, Luca held the position of Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. During her tenure, she oversaw and analyzed economic and political relations among the European Union, the United States, and Canada, playing a pivotal role in coordinating bilateral relations between the U.S. and Hungary. Additionally, she received the first LTP Alumni Award by the Hungarian American Coalition, highlighting her significant dedication to Hungarian-American relations and community engagement.

Speaker Announcement 📣 DJ Lebo speaks at the Community Section of the

“I am a Florida girl born and raised! While I went off to Texas for College, GO FROGS – I came right back! I spent time honing my accounting skills in manufacturing companies and car dealerships before settling into working for our local school district. There I fell in love with children and education. This led me to early learning. I’ve been happily employed at the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, Inc. for almost 14 years, been the CEO for more than 11 years and still love coming to work every day. Along the way I went to the University of North Florida for my master’s in educational leadership, focused on early childhood. I love that we have an opportunity to build collaborative partnerships that help to achieve successful outcomes for children, families, child care providers, and community partners. I also have a wonderful accountant hubby along with two girls who both work for nonprofits in our area. Life is great!”

The Coalition was represented at the Embassy of Hungary during the EU Open Embassy Days.