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Recipient: Yarley Contreras Escobedo
Carol Burr Liberal Studies Scholarship
Yarely Contreras Escobedo is the first recipient of our club’s Carol Burr Liberal Studies Scholarship at Chico State. Yarely is in her fourth year, preparing to teach elementary school and realizing more with each step what a huge commitment teaching youngsters in the current social and political environment is going to be. As Yarely puts it, “One of the biggest reasons why I enjoy teaching is that as teachers we are advocates for our students. Being an advocate is something that I have recently realized and [it has] solidified my stance on teaching.” Jeanie Toscano, Yarely’s Spanish professor, states in her letter of recommendation, “As a first-generation Latina and the first in her family to attend college, [Yarely] carries forward the sacrifices and aspirations of her parents, who immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities. Her profound appreciation for education is evident in the way she approaches her studies and in her desire to create more inclusive learning environments for future generations.” Professor Toscano praises Yarely for being “the type of student who elevates classroom discussions not only through her insights but also through her generosity and open mind in engaging with others’ perspectives.”
Currently, Yarely is taking classes for her Liberal Studies major and Spanish prerequisites for the bilingual credential. She has also completed internships for her second major, Child Development: three at the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton City; one at the Child Development Center on campus, and another at Head Start in Richfield. Finally, through California Mini-Corps, she provided one-on-one support to migratory students in local schools.
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