WOU, Unitus Community Credit Union acknowledge bilingual scholarship recipients – Polk County Itemizer-Observer
Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..
Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Updated: November 1, 2025 @ 3:59 pm
Western Oregon University students receiving the Unitus Bilingual Teacher Scholarship recipients are (from left) Juan Larios, Addison Berry, Jose Contreras, Evelyn Estrada, Alessandra Cervantes Ramirez, Monserrat Alvarez Hernandez, and Araceli Cruz.
Western Oregon University students receiving the Unitus Bilingual Teacher Scholarship recipients are (from left) Juan Larios, Addison Berry, Jose Contreras, Evelyn Estrada, Alessandra Cervantes Ramirez, Monserrat Alvarez Hernandez, and Araceli Cruz.
Western Oregon University, in partnership with Unitus Community Credit Union, hosted a reception to celebrate new Unitus Bilingual Teacher Scholarship recipients. In 2022, Unitus Community Credit Union made a $75,000, multi-year commitment to Western Oregon University’s Bilingual Teacher Scholars program to further expand its efforts and fund a larger student cohort. This scholarship aims to foster diversity and inclusivity within the teaching profession.
The new recipients recognized as this year’s scholars are Moncerrat Alvarez Hernandez, Addison Berry, Alessandra Cervantes Ramirez, Jose Contreras, Evelyn Estrada, Miriam Herrera Hernandez, Nataly Lopez Cabrera, and Areli Santos Gomez.
College of Education Dean Theresa Hickey said “partnerships like this bring us together in such meaningful ways.”
“They highlight our shared commitments to lifting one another to better futures, they underscore the importance of our work to serve with humility and grace, and they remind us of the impact and life-changing importance of what we do daily,” Hickey said. “Thank you to Unitus for being such a generous collaborator. And students, know that we celebrate you with all of our hearts! We are all so proud of your superpowers and your willingness to share your gifts with our community. We believe in you.”’
Unitus Community Credit Union President and CEO Steven Stapp was grateful to be able to help and provide scholarships.
“But we’re really grateful to say we stand with these students and we support them, not just through this journey here in college, but through their educational career,” Stapp said. “We applaud the work these students are doing and Western Oregon University for making this program possible.”
Two scholars shared their stories and inspiration for pursuing a career in education. Monserrat Alvarez Hernandez reflected on being a scholarship recipient.
“It’s an opportunity to be able to continue my education as a transfer student without having to worry about financials, which is a weight lifted off of me,” Hernandez said.
Scholar Addison Berry said that receiving this scholarship means that she gets a better shot at becoming a teacher and gives her more of an opportunity to spend her efforts focusing on classes. She added that this scholarship gives her the opportunities she might not have had otherwise to become a bilingual teacher.
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