Between April 19–21, 2001 Pretto, as a senior majoring in communications at Angelo State University, received a recognition from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association meeting in Wichita Falls, in the live competitions. She won first place in TV announcing. In June 2001, she was selected by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists as one of only 12 students from the U.S. and Puerto Rico to be part of "El Noticiero." Pretto anchored the student produced show in English and did one story in Spanish. That same organization chose her in 2005 to serve as mentor during its annual convention.