Camarillo, Calif. Apr. 26, 2010 – The School of Education at CSU Channel Islands (CI) has announced scholarship awards from the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) to two of its students, Norma Ayala and Pavel Escobedo.
The scholarship awards were presented at the annual CABE meeting held in San Jose. CABE is a non-profit organization that promotes bilingual education and quality educational experience for all students in California. Its 5,000 members in 60 chapters/affiliates promote equity and student achievement for students with diverse cultural, racial, and linguistic backgrounds.
Norma Ayala received the CABE Teachership Award, a $2,000 scholarship. She was nominated by the Region 5 CABE Chapter. “Going to the recognition ceremony and receiving the scholarship award really helped give me even more motivation to reach my goal of being a bilingual teacher. Of course it really helps me economically as well,” said Ayala. She plans to use her education to set high expectations for her students and help them expand their knowledge and skills for success in future grades.
Norma Ayala graduated from CSU Channel Islands in 2006 with a major in Liberal Studies and is currently taking preparatory classes for a BCLAD (Bilingual, Cross Cultural, Language and Academic Development) credential and will be starting the Multiple Subjects Program soon. This will prepare her to teach in grades K - 6 in a bilingual/cross-cultural classroom with students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Pavel Escobedo is a graduating senior earning a degree in Liberal Studies and is planning on becoming a bilingual teacher. He was awarded the prestigious $2,000 Alma Flor Ada Teachership Award. Dr. Alma Flor Ada inspired many children, parents and educators throughout her life by her work as both educator and author.
At age five, Pavel arrived in the United States and experienced racism and poverty as a student. This year, at age 22, he became an American citizen. Escobedo said, “I struggled in my own education, not just with language, but with a lack of understanding of cultural differences in the learning situation. There were big socioeconomic differences between me and my classmates. All of these things sometimes seemed overwhelming and made me feel very isolated.” He plans to use his own experiences to open academic doors for immigrant students and English learners.
Dr. Kathleen Contreras, a lecturer in the School of Education and advisor to Ayala and Escobedo said, “Both Norma and Pavel are deeply committed to serving their local community as bilingual teachers and will make excellent role models.”
For additional information on the School of Education at CSU Channel Islands, contact Dr. Joan Karp, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the School of Education at 805-437-8871 or joan.karp@csuci.edu
For media inquiries contact Nancy Covarrubias Gill, Director of Communication & Marketing at CSU Channel Islands, 805-437-8456 or nancy.gill@csuci.edu.
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CI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.