The Ellen and Scipio de Kanter Dual-Language Scholarship has been awarded to Ruth Cañas, a junior bilingual education major, for the first time since its inception in 2006. The scholarship, created by the de Kanter’s children to honor their mother and father, is open to dual-language students of high academic standing in UST’s School of Education.

Cañas was chosen as the recipient of the award because of her impressive academic record and her plans to pursue a career in elementary bilingual education. Born in El Salvador, Cañas received her associate’s degree in graphic design but then realized she wanted a career that would allow her to travel the world and make a difference in peoples’ lives. Having grown up learning Spanish from her parents and English in school, she strongly believes in the value of bilingualism.

“I believe that if kids stick with a bilingual program from elementary school to high school, they will be more likely to succeed in college and in the job market because they have a competitive edge,” Cañas said.

Dr. de Kanter, who served as instructor and director of bilingual education at UST for 26 years before retiring in May 2005, has devoted much of her life to making quality education a possibility for students of all upbringings.

“I want to see that all children have the opportunity of a quality education, no matter what their ethnic or language background is,” de Kanter said.

Dr. de Kanter has contributed to a number of programs and projects at UST including writing multiple federally funded grants for the School of Education and collaborating with the Helms Community Learning Center, a dual-language magnet school in the Houston Independent School District.