TEC Student of the Month Award

Committed  to learning Spanish and to learning it together, Ellen and Aaron studying side by side for many months merited a double recognition. Sharing a passion for organic and sustainable agriculture, they are driven to expand their Spanish skills to be able to communicate with Spanish-speakers in their fields of fair trade and farming. In fact, they began learning Spanish while volunteering on a farm in Colombia, and the dream of travelling abroad again is the other spark that keeps them motivated. They are hard-working students who support each other in their successes and hurdles and are on the path to achieving their ambitious learning goals. Genuine and kind, through their example Ellen and Aaron inspire us to live by our ideals and pursue our goals with joyful determination.

Steadfast in her commitment to studying Spanish and continuously attending classes, one might say Calista's passion for food is interwoven with her passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. In her workplace at a popular Mexican restaurant in Portland, she draws on her Spanish skills to get to know her Spanish-speaking co-workers and engage customers in foodie conversation. She is also an avid cook and community gardener, eager to learn to prepare delicacies from south of the border. Her authentic curiosity and desire to deeply understand Latino culture has resulted in her leading a life surrounded by Spanish-speakers, and she looks forward to future travel and further immersion. Aided by her easy-going attitude and unwavering persistence, Calista is on the road towards fluency and we are delighted to count her as part of our community at Tierra.

An enthusiastic and focused student with an ever-growing passion for Spanish and Latin America, Kate sets the bar high for her own achievement goals and takes advantage of class time to the fullest. For her, learning Spanish is a family effort as both of her children also study Spanish and share with their mother an appreciation of cultural immersion and desire to volunteer and make a positive difference at home and during trips abroad. Of late, they’ve been busy preparing for their trip to Nicaragua this summer which will include Spanish study and community service work.  Kate has also included her children in her experience at Tierra,  frequently participating together in our community fiesta events and enrolling her daughter in Spanish classes. Kate’s example of whole-family education and involvement in community-building and social change is a true inspiration and wonderful illustration of the doors language study can open.