Delphine Ulibarri Lucero Memorial Award in Linguistics

A scholarship fund has been established in the name of Delphine Ulibarri Lucero (1923-2010)

Born on the downside of advantage and orphaned at an early age, she was a woman of accomplishment who sustained a love of learning throughout her life. Profiled in The Los Angeles Times (1996) article that recognized unique students who had defied obstacles on the way to earning their degrees: "At age 69, Lucero fulfilled her lifelong dream of earning a college degree when she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies in 1992. But for Lucero, that wasn't enough. Four years later, Lucero received her master's degree in linguistics and a credential in English as a Second Language - making it through school despite heart problems, surgeries and a cancer scare. "I'm 73 and I'm proud of being old and still learning", said the Chatsworth resident.

With her master's degree, Lucero taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and the textbook and teaching aids she developed continue to be used by ESL teachers. At the time of her death at age 87, she was developing a multimedia website to make her materials available online and was about to launch online tutoring using see-you-see-me technology. Her interest in English as a second language began when she taught bilingual students in a one-room country school in Cordova, CO under a special teaching credential during WW II. Her passion for teaching and commitment to improving social conditions and educational opportunities for all ages led to careers that championed programs that spanned ages beginning with preschool to the elderly. She will be remembered as the driving force behind the establishment of the Head Start Program in Trinidad, CO, her home town, and for establishing Colorado's first Senior Center under the Johnson administration's Model Cities Program. Lucero was Colorado's representative to the White House Conference on Aging during the Nixon administration. She served as the Director of the Senior Center for many years prior to joining her daughters in California in 1988.

Delphine realized a life-long dream when she received her degrees from California State University, Northridge. One of her daughters, Professor Brennis Lucero-Wagoner, served as the Interim Associate Dean of the College of Humanities in 2006. Donations to the scholarship may be sent to the College of Humanities noting: "Delphine Ulibarri Lucero" in the check's memo line.

Donations can be mailed to: CSUN/College of Humanities, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8252

If you would like to make an impact on the College of Humanities, please contact Suren Seropian, Director of Development at 818-677-7135 or suren.seropian@csun.edu.