PSU Bilingual Teacher Pathway Student Wins Margaret Nielsen Award

Portland State University student Leticia Aguilar Salinas has been named the sole PSU recipient of the Margaret Nielsen Award from Oregon's Beta Beta Chapter of DKG, which honors female students who show exceptional potential as future teachers. The chapter awarded Aguilar Salinas a $6,000 scholarship to support her journey toward becoming a licensed teacher in the state.

Born and raised in Southeast Portland, Aguilar Salinas has been navigating life independently since the age of 16, when her parents were abruptly deported to Mexico. Despite the immense challenges of supporting herself, she has never stopped reaching for her goals.

I love learning, teaching and I know I was born to make a change in our education system.

When the pandemic hit, Aguilar Salinas - like many students - faced severe disruptions. Sharing a two-bedroom home with five others, sleeping on a couch and navigating virtual learning without a background in technology led to her failing two classes. For an overachiever, it was a painful setback. But rather than letting it define her, she chose to see it as part of her growth.

Today, Aguilar Salinas stands proud as a first-generation college student, the first in her family on track to earn an undergraduate degree. A Bilingual Teacher Pathway student, she is currently working toward a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, expected in 2027, with plans to eventually pursue her master's and doctorate.

For the past four years, Aguilar Salinas has worked as a paraeducator at Cesar E. Chavez School, a Title I school in the Portland Public Schools district. The school's student body is more than 60% Latinx, yet she is one of only two Latina educators in the middle school.

"Our families crossed borders for us to get an education that they weren't able to receive or obtain," Aguilar Salinas said. "I love learning, teaching and I know I was born to make a change in our education system."

Aguilar Salinas plans to use her scholarship to fund her undergraduate studies, continuing her path toward becoming a licensed teacher. Her ultimate goal is to remain in Oregon's Title I schools, specifically at Cesar Chavez, supporting and inspiring the next generation of students.

"I want to help those who also had to do it themselves," she said. "I am living proof that we can do it and succeed. I am dedicating my life to help students needing an extra hand."

Interested in becoming a licensed teacher in Oregon? Explore teacher preparation programs at PSU.