Harper Wallace, a senior at Bethlehem Central High School, has been awarded a national scholarship by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).
The competitive scholarship is awarded to a select number of high school seniors from across the country who study Spanish in high school. The $1,000 scholarship is to be used for post-secondary educational expenses.
The application process requires each student to submit a five-minute video of themselves using the Spanish language in a conversational manner, as well as a written essay and answers to questions about the student’s Spanish language experience in high school and their future college plans. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, a student must have scored at or above the 75th percentile on the National Spanish Exam for two consecutive years.
Wallace credits her World Language teachers — Jessica Westervelt, Teresita Barcia and Evelyn Ledezma – for supporting her application and serving as role models.
‘I really fell in love with learning Spanish in high school because of the amazing teachers I’ve had, who all have a strong passion for teaching the language and make it impossible not to enjoy the class,” said Wallace. “From their leadership to all the things they have taught me throughout my high school career, I am grateful for all they have done.”
Wallace will enroll at Hamilton College in the fall.