Theresa Hattar, of Chicago, is one of four alumni being inducted into the 2018 Alumni Hall of Fame at Moraine Valley Community College.
“Being selected as part of the Hall of Fame is such an honor. It feels good knowing people appreciate what you have done and what you are doing,” said Hattar, who lived in Oak Lawn while attending Moraine Valley.
Hattar, the first person in her family to earn a college degree, received an Associate of Arts degree in 2007 and a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a concentration in advertising and public relations at DePaul University in 2009. She currently works as a senior account executive for a Chicago publishing and marketing company that promotes Chicago tourism.
While at Moraine Valley, Hattar was president of the Student Government Association and represented the college on the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee. She also worked extensively at the forefront of student support for Moraine Valley’s expansion initiatives.
She received the 2017 Leadership Award from the River North Business Association for her work with the Magnificent Mile Association’s holiday light display and annual Thanksgiving Day parade, as well as for her work with the Chicago Loop Alliance. Hattar has played an integral role in the planning and execution of the annual tourism and hospitality trade show at Navy Pier, which puts her efforts to showcase Chicago on a global stage. She is a member of the River North Business Association board of directors, a leader in the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church community, and a long-time, avid supporter of the Misericordia Foundation.
“This award from the college means so much to me,” Hattar said. “I have three older sisters who all attended Moraine Valley so I was not given a choice. However, once I was there, I chose to stay. I fell in love with the college—the staff, the culture, all of it,” she said.
Kristy McGreal, executive director of the Moraine Valley Foundation, said Hattar is a welcome addition to this year’s Alumni Hall of Fame. “Theresa was a leader and highly involved while she was a student at Moraine Valley, and those traits have continued to flourish. Her successes are numerous in her professional and personal life, and we are proud to include her with this elite group of graduates.”
Hattar, along with Debbie Izzo, of Evergreen Park; Dr. Jehad Matariyeh, of Homer Glen; and Alderman Brian Hopkins, of Chicago; will be inducted Feb. 22, at the inducted Feb. 22, at the dinner, which is sponsored by UPS, a Foundation platinum sponsor. For more information, contact McGreal at mcgrealc2@morainevalley.edu.
