1. Cape Fear Foreign Language Collaborative
Scholarship Program
September 2019 Update

2. CFFLC Scholarships
Initiated in 1995 with one UNCW student receiving $125.
Expanded to two UNCW scholarships in 1996
High School scholarship added in 1997
UNCW graduate student scholarship added in 2013
Vista Higher Learning began sponsoring one scholarship per year in Thank you, Vista!
Jacquie Galbraith contributed $500 to initiate Terry and Joann Mount Scholarship.

3. Scholarship Totals in April 2018
24 HS scholarships for a total of $4,000.
Students resided in 6 counties
Students studied FRH, GER, and SPN
45 UNCW undergraduate scholarships for a total of $11,
5 UNCW graduate scholarships in SPN for a
total of $1,500.

4. Scholarships
Currently CFFLC provides funds for three $300-scholarships per year.
Vista provides for one $300-scholarship
Total per year in 1995 = $125
Total per year in 2018 = $1200
From 1995 – 2018, 74 students have received scholarships for a total of $16,

5. As of September 2019… Scholarship recipients = 78
Total funds dispersed = $17, 425
Funds from CFFLC treasury = $15, 925
Funds from Vista Higher Learning = $1, 500

6. Proposed scholarships for 2019-2020
UNCW Undergraduate majors: 2 X $300 =$600
$300 from CFFLC treasury
$300 from Vista Higher Learning
UNCW Graduate student: $300
High School student continuing study in college:
$300
UNCW Undergraduate major seeking Licensure K-12 (Terry and Joann Mount Scholarship): $300
Total funds needed: $1,500.

7. Highlighting Scholarship Recipients from Previous Years

8. Elizabeth Ashlee Smith – 1995 First CFFLC Scholarship Recipient
Ashlee and her parents at Sigma Delta Pi initiation

9. Ashlee Smith Balena Undergraduate (SPN) - 1995
Dr. Ashlee Balena’s story is one that has come full circle. She became a Seahawk at age 17 when she started UNCW as a freshman and declared a major in Spanish. Her first experience with study abroad was as a student in Quito, Ecuador, through a UNCW faculty-led summer program. Since then she has led successful programs to Ecuador, Spain and Argentina. Ecuador is where she met her husband Max, earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and taught ninth grade English at an international school. Next, Ashlee earned her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature at UNC Chapel Hill. She has now been teaching Spanish for twelve years in the very department where the journey began. She is a Senior Lecturer at UNCW.

10. Wayne Carpenter Undergraduate (SPN) - 1997
Wayne graduated with his B.A. and teacher licensure in He has been a Spanish teacher for the New Hanover County Schools for 20 years. In addition to Spanish-teaching duties, he coaches volleyball and soccer.

11. Kimberly Small – Undergraduate (Spanish) 1998
The Collaborative scholarship helped me out so much! Since I was an independent student putting myself through school on my own and working full time, every dollar counted! I currently teach Spanish for Bladen Community College and am a Spanish/English Writing tutor at Cape Fear Community College and a part time ESL teacher with them as well.

12. Anna Sipe and Almitra Medina - 1999
Gladys Anna Terry Teresita and Almitra

13. Almitra Medina – Undergraduate (Spanish) – 1999
After graduation with a B.A. degree in Spanish at UNCW (2001), I pursued graduate studies at Georgetown University, where I received an M.S. (2003) and the Ph.D. (2008) with distinction in Spanish Applied Linguistics. Since about the age of 13, I knew I wanted to teach Spanish. Therefore, teaching graduate and undergraduate Spanish and Spanish linguistics for the past 16 years has been a joy, first at Georgetown University and Auburn University, and currently at East Carolina University, where I’m an assistant professor of Spanish linguistics. With a strong interest in second language acquisition (SLA) and psycholinguistics, I have also published a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in the fields of SLA and cognitive psychology.

14. Miriam Berrospi
Miriam Terry Stephany St. Laurent

15. Miriam Berrospi Undergraduate (Spanish) - 2001
I completed my B.A. in Spanish and in Special Education in I went back to school to earn my M.A. in Spanish at UNCC, which I completed in 2007.  I am currently teaching Spanish at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury/Concord, North Carolina.

16. Joel Bullard and Michelle Bone - 2002
Joel Michelle Julie

17. Joel Bullard Undergraduate (SPN) - 2002
As far as an update since my graduation: "I finished my B.A. in Spanish at UNCW in 2003 and immediately started teaching ESL.  I taught for 8.5 years, then transitioned to Human Resources in the protein industry and subsequently in manufacturing, where I have been able to use my Spanish-speaking skills.  I currently work in HR for Hog Slat in Newton Grove, but was recently able to realize a three year tenure with them in  international sales in Latin America, based out of Chile.  I just recently moved back to NC from Chile.   I am married to Loreto Tessini, from Chile.  We have three children, Isabella Sophia, 6; Gillian Joelle, 4; and Benjamin Jack 7 months.  They all are and will be bilingual!"

18. Brittany Straughn – 2003 Pender High School
Brittany is currently a 911 dispatcher in New Hanover County. Having furthered her studies in Spanish at UNCW and later at ECU, she is able quickly to understand Spanish-speaking callers in her job. Although the county has an official translation service for 911 calls, being able to understand the caller and quickly make decisions is a real asset in situations where seconds count!

19. Emily Sena and Joseph Chambers - 2012
Joann Emily Kayce Scott Joseph Pascale Kim

20. Emily Sena Undergraduate (Spanish) - 2012
I finished my B.A. in Spanish at UNCW in 2013 and my M.A. in Spanish in Since then, I’ve been teaching in Wake County at Fuquay-Varina High School. I currently serve as the department chair and am co-adviser of our chapter of the National Honor Society.

21. Paula Crites – 2013 First Graduate Student Recipient
Kim Lisa Paula Joann
Paula
Melanie

22. Paula Crites Graduate Student (SPN) - 2013
I graduated from UNCW with the M.A. in Spanish in December 2014 and since then I have been working; first at UNCW and now at Old Dominion University. I am teaching face-to-face and, since we opened the online program this semester, I am also teaching online. I am really happy here. I was so honored when I received the CFFLC scholarship; this was the first time in my life that I received a scholarship, so it does not matter if it was small or big—for me it was perfect. Thank you so much!

23. Yamile Uceda – 2014 First Vista Higher Learning Scholar
Amanda Yamile

24. Yamile Uceda, Megan Koelb, and Caroline Hocutt - 2014
Mary, Amanda, Yamile, Joann, Megan, Caroline, Pascale, Kayce, Kim

25. Yamile Uceda Undergraduate (SPN) - 2014
I am excited to announce my graduation in May 2018 and the implementation of Spanish in my professional career which the CFFLC helped me achieve Update: Yamile works at Central Carolina CC in their College & Career Readiness Program as a test administrator coordinator.

26. Jamie Jason

27. Jamie Jason – 2016 - Hoggard High School
I am a sophomore now at Brandeis University majoring in Business and Spanish and Minoring in Legal Studies. I am taking Spanish classes on Latin, American Film and Latin American Literature along with Modern Spain Cultural Studies. Last year. I took a Medical Spanish class. I hope to go into a field where Business, Health, Law, and Spanish intertwine Update: In the spring of 2019, I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for 6 months. I lived in the city center with a host mom, and took all of my courses in Spanish with local students. I also interned in a startup at the Google Campus of Madrid, learning new cross cultural communication skills and enhancing my professional Spanish.

28. Marilyn Roth and Christina Wytko 2016

29. Marilyn Roth Undergraduate (SPN) - 2016
I graduated from UNCW in 2016 with a Spanish degree and a teaching license. I’m still living in Wilmington as a Spanish teacher at Ashley High School and I absolutely love it!
2019 Update: Marilyn moved from New Hanover County and is now teaching Spanish at Phillip Simmons High School in Charleston, SC. 

30. Christina Wytko Undergraduate (FRH) - 2016
I completed my B.A. in both French and Art History at UNCW in 2016, graduating with honors in Art History. I am continuing my studies at the University of Missouri, Columbia (aka - Mizzou) and will receive my M.A. in Art History in May of this year. I am currently a semi-finalist for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant position in France, and should hear whether or not I am one of the lucky ten recipients within the coming weeks. I am currently employed at La Petite École here in Columbia, Missouri, since August of This is a dual-language immersion school where we teach the children in French, but also some parts of the day in English. This year I am an assistant teacher in the Kindergarten class and I see eight beautiful faces each morning. Last year I assisted in the preschool class and worked with children ages 3 to 4. I enjoy seeing their young minds soak up the French language like a sponge – it’s truly incredible! I have not made any plans to continue in school just yet, but am seriously considering a graduate degree in French with a focus in education, perhaps even abroad. I am eternally grateful for my experience in the French department at UNCW and would definitely not be where I am today without it!

31. Stephanie Newman, Autumn River Bondurant, and Edurne Alonso del Río - 2017
Mary Albertson, River, Amanda, Brian, Edurne, Greta (Stephanie not shown)

32. Stephanie Newman Undergraduate (FRH) - 2017
I was able to use the CFFLC scholarship during my semester abroad in Paris, France! I used it to travel to Strasbourg and Colmar in Alsace using the TGV. It allowed me to better understand France as a country instead of basing my knowledge solely on Paris. I am on track to earn my B.A. in French and International Studies with a focus on Europe.

33. Autumn River Bondurant Undergraduate (SPN) - 2017
I am finishing up my B.A. in Communication Studies and Spanish at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the Fall of I have decided to continue my Spanish studies at UNCW. The CFFLC scholarship assisted me greatly with financing my higher education. Thank you to everyone who makes the scholarship possible! 
2019 Update: River will finish her M.A. in Spanish in December and work part-time teaching Spanish and working as a photographer at UNCW next spring.

34. Edurne Alonso del Río Graduate Student - 2017
Since I received my M.A. in Spanish at UNCW, I have returned to Spain with the immediate goal of pursuing a TESL career here. Since September, I have been preparing for the government-required examinations for entering Spain’s Secondary Education system as an English as a Foreign Language Teacher. The examination process is intensive and quite demanding. My exam is June 23rd, so wish me luck. In addition to the studying, I have been sporadically teaching English to a wide range of ages (from kids to adults). Right now, I am based in Valladolid . Every chance I get, I escape to the mountains of Palencia and my wonderful home town —Guardo. Among my future plans I only have teaching a foreign language in mind and I have not abandoned the idea of teaching Spanish as a second language. I wish I could be in the CFFLC this Saturday because those meetings were an inspirational gold mine.

35. José María Valle Narciso Graduate Student - 2018
My plans after graduating from UNCW with my MA in May 2018 are to start a Translation Company in Spain and to eventually get a PhD in Spanish…the CFFLC really helped me get the diploma needed to move on in my career Update: He translates and assists in management of the Official Language Schools network for the Dept. of Education in Valencia, Spain.