Satcha Pretto facts for kids

Satcha Pretto, born on April 5, 1980, is a well-known Honduran-American journalist. She is a news co-anchor for the popular morning show Despierta America on the Univision Network.

Early Life and Education

Where Satcha Grew Up

Satcha Pretto was born in La Paz, Honduras. Her mother, Liz Padilla, was Honduran, and her father, Rolando Pretto, was Panamanian. She lived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, from when she was three until she turned 18.

Her School Days

Satcha went to bilingual schools in Honduras, including Mayan Elementary School and Macris High School. She was a great student, and her excellent grades helped her get a scholarship in 1998. This scholarship allowed her to attend Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. In 2001, she earned a degree in Communications. Satcha is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Satcha's Career Journey

Starting in Radio

When Satcha was just 17 and still in high school, she got an amazing chance to work at a radio station. She joined Radio Suprema Stereo 99.5 in Tegucigalpa in August 1997. After three months of training, she started hosting a live show that lasted three hours! She even broadcast the show while wearing her school uniform for a whole year.

Moving to TV News

Satcha began her professional TV career in Midland-Odessa, Texas. She worked as a reporter and anchor for the late-night news on KTLE-Telemundo. She also reported for KWES-TV channel 9, which is an NBC station. Satcha worked in West Texas from January 2002 to September 2003.

Reporting in Dallas

In October 2003, Satcha moved to Dallas, Texas. There, she became a co-anchor for KUVN channel 23's 5:00 p.m. newscast, Cinco en Punto (which means Five o'Clock). She also reported for the late-night news, Edición Nocturna (Nightly Edition). While in Dallas, Satcha even worked with CNN as a reporter for shows like Anderson Cooper 360. One of her most memorable interviews in Dallas was with the famous Chilean writer Isabel Allende in March 2006.

Joining Univision Network

On July 13, 2006, Univision announced that Satcha Pretto would be the new co-host of Primer Impacto - Fin de Semana (First Impact - Weekend Edition). This popular news show aired on Saturdays and Sundays. Just six months after joining Univision, Satcha hosted the network's broadcast of the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade, and she did it again in January 2008.

In May 2007, Satcha covered Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Brazil. Later, she was chosen to be one of only 70 journalists who traveled with the Pope during his visit to the United States in 2008. This was a big moment because Satcha became the first female journalist from a Spanish-language news outlet in the U.S. to travel on the Pope's plane. On July 18, 2011, Pretto joined Univision's morning show ¡Despierta América!, where she continues to be a co-anchor.

Awards and Recognitions

Early Achievements

While studying at Angelo State University in 2001, Satcha received an award from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. She won first place in TV announcing. In June 2001, she was chosen by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists to be part of El Noticiero, a student-produced news show. Satcha anchored the show in English and reported one story in Spanish.

Professional Awards

Satcha has received many awards for her work in broadcast journalism. She won an Emmy Award as part of the KMEX channel 34 team for their broadcast of the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade. She was also nominated for an Emmy for best investigative report and received an award from Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. In May 2008, one of her investigative reports was a finalist for the Livingston Awards, which recognize journalists under 35.

Vanidades magazine honored her with its "Tribute to Hispanic Women" award in the journalism category in 2006. People en Espanol magazine also recognized her, choosing her as one of the 10 best-dressed celebrities in 2009 and including her on their "50 most beautiful" list in 2010. In 2017, the magazine named her one of the "25 Most Powerful Women."

Charity Work

Satcha is very involved in charity projects. She is a "Smile Ambassador" for Operation Smile, a group that helps children with facial deformities. They work to provide healthcare for children and families. Satcha is also a runner and a triathlete, and she takes part in races to help raise money for charity.

Personal Life

Satcha Pretto married American businessman Aaron Butler in Barcelona in 2013. Aaron had proposed to her in the same city a year earlier. Their son, Bruce, was born in 2014, and their daughter, Alana, was born in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Satcha Pretto para niños