A scholarship to pay for a one-year AATSP Student membership will be awarded to a
first year teacher in Cook, Lake, DuPage or Will counties working towards a Spanish education teaching certificate who meets the following criteria:

• Has a letter from employer verifying first-year Spanish teacher status.

• Has expressed interest in this professional organization by completing
the attached form.

DEADLINE: June 1, 2023

The award is one of two that are named in honor of Sonia de Lama, Chicago area chapter former leader and past president, who passed away on October 7, 2015. Sonia immigrated to the United States from Cuba when she was 18. While she raised two small children in Chicago, she went to night school, eventually earning three degrees, including a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. This led to her teaching at the City Colleges of Chicago.

Sonia was very involved in AATSP. She was Director of the Spanish Immersion Weekend Program for George Williams College. In addition, she taught at Benedictine College.

This annual scholarship was established to honor her service and passion for teaching.