By Maegan Murray, WSU Tri-Cities
RICHLAND, Wash. – After adding a foreign language minor in the fall, Washington State University Tri-Cities this week awarded its first scholarship for the expanded program.
Sophomore Ana Isabel Sandoval Zazueta received the $500 Kenneth H. Vanderford Scholarship, the first to a WSU Tri-Cities student for a foreign language.
The Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures began offering upper division courses in Spanish in the fall.
Of all WSU campuses, “WSU Tri-Cities has the highest percentage of students who self report as Hispanic,” said Carol Wilkerson, professor of foreign languages and cultures. “We want our campus to reflect our community.”
Sandoval Zazueta is earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and Spanish. She said she hopes to use her Spanish minor in her future career as a doctor. She wants to travel to third-world countries to help those who don’t have access to medical care.
She grew up speaking Spanish, but said she has refined her speaking and writing skills through WSU Tri-Cities courses.
“It is a help,” she said of earning the scholarship. “I can take (classes) right here at home.”
Contact:
Maegan Murray, WSU Tri-Cities public relations, 509-372-7333, maegan.murray@tricity.wsu.edu