TEC Student of the Month Award

An adventurous spirit who’s passionate about scuba diving, dragon boat rowing, and travel among other things, Kathy’s natural optimism and patience have helped her make great achievements in her Spanish studies. Beginning with no Spanish skills four years ago, Kathy and her partner Sheila took on this challenge together and have been dedicated to honing their Spanish skills ever since. Kind and empathetic, Kathy is a fantastic classmate who listens attentively and contributes to creating a comfortable learning enviornment for all. Acting on her interest in using her Spanish skills to do service work, she participated last year in a trip to Guatemala with a group providing dental care and education. Kathy’s endless enthusiasm and curiosity are an inspiration and she is a model of how to live the retired life with purpose and never stop learning. We are honored to count Kathy as part of our community at Tierra and look forward to continuing to see her defy any limits and take on life (and Spanish) with zest.

Always with a smile on her face, Patti’s unending supply of enthusiasm and wry sense of humor render her a welcome addition to any class. Having started at Tierra in a Beginner 1 course, she’s shown incredible dedication to her studies and tenacity as she worked her way up through Tierra’s course levels (she’s now in Intermediate 6). Initially motivated to study Spanish in order to engage Spanish speakers in her work as a case manager, her genuine interest to expand her language skills and cultural knowledge led her to take solo trips to Argentina and Mexico. Patti possesses the humility that allows one to learn without fear of making mistakes, which invites others to also be willing to take risks and try new things in Spanish class. She is a fantastic collaborator with her classmates, contributing to creating a truly welcoming space where all are valued. We are delighted to have Patti as part of our community at Tierra and look forward to continuing to enjoy her company as she reaches for ever-higher goals.

With unfaltering determination, Susan has been wholly dedicated to her Spanish studies since first enrolling in classes at Tierra two years ago. A nature lover and avid hiker, she approaches learning Spanish like she might a hike: she is unafraid of challenges and holds a steady pace on the steep parts, knowing that eventually she’ll reach the peak and stroll down the mountain. Always asking questions to deepen her understanding, she’s recently worked daily Spanish study into her schedule and meets up with a classmate weekly for practice and review. One of her main motivations to learn Spanish is to communicate with those she works with in her business importing hand-hammered copper handicrafts from Michoacán, Mexico. Her burgeoning language skills have allowed her to communicate directly with the artisans. Over the years, she’s made many trips to the region and her authentic interest in expanding her cultural knowledge shines through in her classes. We’re honored to count Susan as part of our Tierra community and look forward to continuing to see her conquer ever higher summits.