Scholarships Help Future Teacher

Osvaldo De Los Santos is building his future while attending Eastern Washington University.

Originally from Kennewick, Washington, Osvaldo is in his third year at EWU, majoring in bilingual education, Spanish, and English as a second language after completing two years at Columbia Basin College.

His vision is to become a K–5 bilingual educator, helping Hispanic-American students preserve their heritage language while succeeding academically. For him, language is more than communication — it is identity, culture, and belonging.

Eastern’s coursework and hands-on practicum experiences are helping him transform his vision into reality. Osvaldo gained vital experience in his field while volunteering in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms at Midway Elementary in nearby Colbert, and working with Japanese exchange students at EWU. As a work-study grader and tutor in the Modern Languages Department, he supports faculty while developing his own teaching methods and creating learning materials.

Osvaldo balances his studies with year-round work in Cheney and spends his summers packing produce in the fields of Pasco. Scholarships and financial aid help this hardworking student continue his education and work toward his vision of making a difference for schoolchildren. Osvaldo is grateful for those who support student scholarships. That spirit of generosity is helping him become a teacher who will open doors for the next generation.