Student of Distinction: Micaelina Ramírez-Chávez – Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures

“My first approach to a community college was purely out of curiosity, as realistically, I didn’t see myself attending one as being feasible. Being an immigrant, who left my parents at the age of fifteen, now a single mother with a minimum-wage job, I knew it would require great sacrifices to embark on such an academic journey.”

Micaelina Ramírez-Chávez is a graduate student receiving her M.A. in Spanish and is the graduate Student of Distinction from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.

Though Ramírez-Chávez understood the difficulty of pursuing her education, her advisors guided her in the right direction.

“I was informed about some scholarships available to cover the tuition through college and eventually through Fresno State University; this would be a great relief since tuition fees were my greatest concern.”

Since her first Spanish class at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, and with her background as a fluent Spanish speaker, she has been fascinated by the richness of the Hispanic culture. This connection prompted her to share this cultural wealth, particularly with those from non-Spanish- speaking backgrounds.

After receiving her AA in Spanish in 2019, she transferred to Fresno State to major in Spanish. 

Her car would often break down, so she would have to find other ways to travel the hour and twenty minutes to school, including using the bus or carpooling.

“Despite encountering numerous obstacles, I remained steadfast in my commitment to never missing a single class,” Ramírez-Chávez said.

 “These challenges served as the catalyst that fueled my courage and determination to give my absolute best. I firmly believe that the greater the obstacles along the path to achieving one’s goals, the more gratifying the ultimate success becomes.”

Thanks to her perseverance, Ramírez-Chávez achieved the distinction of Summa Cum Laude for both her undergraduate and master’s studies. Additionally, she was a tutor for the Spanish 119 class and a teaching associate for Spanish in 2022.

“Over the last two years, I have had the opportunity to observe her brilliant academic performance, and I have been impressed by her unwavering willingness to learn, grow and overcome the different obstacles she has faced,” said Dr. Rafael Lemus, associate professor.

Ramírez-Chávez participated in a conference held by the Central Valley World Language Association, which centered on best practices for language teaching in the classroom. She also volunteered in recruiting for the Spanish master’s program and consequently was appointed as an ambassador for the Department of Spanish.

“Although I am currently eager to pass on my knowledge and Hispanic culture to non- Spanish-speaking students, as well as heritage speakers at a community college, I remain open to the possibility of pursuing a doctorate in the same field or Spanish linguistics,” said Ramírez-Chávez. “I believe that educators should never cease learning and continually seek professional growth and development opportunities.”

Dr. Yolanda Doub, professor of Spanish said, “If I had children who were studying Spanish in the classroom, I would want them to have Micaela as their teacher. Her qualities support students for their growth and learning, which is the type of environment that students need and deserve.”